Pope denounces China for illicit bishop ordination
By Associated Press
Jul 16, 2011 6:06 AM CDT

Pope Benedict XVI has denounced the latest ordination of a bishop in China without his approval.

The pontiff said the bishop acted in defiance of the Holy See's request not to accept the ordination and has incurred automatic excommunication.

A strongly worded statement released Saturday by the Vatican said Benedict "deplores the manner in which the church in China is being treated."

The Rev. Joseph Huang Bingzhang was consecrated as bishop of Shantou a few days ago.

The Vatican insists the pope has sole right to appoint bishops. Beijing's Communist leaders see that position as foreign interference.

The Vatican statement says the bishop "had been asked on numerous occasions not to accept episcopal ordination."