Pope Excommunicates Four Chinese Bishops

The Vatican on Thursday excommunicated two bishops ordained by China’s state-controlled church without the pope’s consent, escalating tensions as the two sides explore preliminary moves toward improving ties.

The Vatican also excommunicated the two bishops who ordained them, saying church law mandates excommunication for bishops involved in ordinations without Vatican approval. MSNBC

Pray that this situation be resolved. There are as many as fourteen million Catholics in the Chinese Underground Church that may become subject to even more persecution than they have been for the last 57 years or so.