All priests and nuns in Shanghai diocese have been forced to attend compulsory “study classes,” which observers believe were imposed by authorities in response to Auxiliary Bishop Thaddeus Ma Daqin’s controversial ordination in July, reports Ucanews.
The 45-year-old prelate quit the Catholic Patriotic Association at his ordination on July 7. Since then, he has been in “retreat” at the Sheshan Seminary with a “certain degree of freedom,” sources say.
Government-sanctioned Church authorities said his recognition seriously violated regulations in relation to episcopal ordinations.
As a result, according to sources, some 80 diocesan priests and 80 nuns of the Our Lady of Presentation Congregation were divided into three groups to take three-days of classes at the Shanghai Institute of Socialism lasting 12 hours each day. The first classes began on September 10 and the final ones concluded last week.
Church sources said university professors gave lectures aimed at strengthening their sense of duty toward the country, law and the independent Church principle.
FULL STORY Shanghai Religious undergo re-education (Ucanews)