[singlepic id=45 w=320 float=right]But it’s not cause for celebration in Rome. The ordination is unapproved by the Holy See. And Vatican Press Office director Fr. Federico Lombardi says if there is no Papal mandate, then the ordination is contrary "to the unity of the Universal Church" and a cause for "sorrow and concern." Father Joseph Huang Bingzhang became the second illicit ordination in two weeks, the first of which we wrote about here. Sadly, a number of bishops and priests who are in communion with the Pope were also pressured to take part in today’s ordination ceremony (Asia News has more on that). Vatican Radio has more on the Church's reaction here. Also interesting to note, the Fides news agency, of the Congregation for the Evangelization of People, has launched the blog Being Catholic in China. Vatican Press Office Director Fr. Federico Lombardi, SJ,told Catholic News Service that the "new China blog is an initiative of Fides but does not have the official status that statements of the congregation or the Fides news bulletins have." CNS explains the purpose of the blog:

The day after it was launched, Fides published a story saying the blog would be "a means of information and training for Chinese Catholics" at a time that "requires a careful reading of the situation," and it hoped the blog would promote unity within the Chinese Catholic community and between Chinese Catholics and the universal church.

Published in Chinese and English, the blog can be read here. Ties between China and the Holy See ended 60 years ago when China's Communist Party established its own church outside of the Pope’s authority.