it is interesting to follow the growing rift between the vatican and china.

the latest clash is over the consecration of two new bishops without first clearing it with the vatican, which apparently is a serious offense and a "grave wound" to the unity of the church (according to the vatican). 

all the chinese are trying to do is to control the church in china, so it does not become a source for civil unrest, like the falun gong. this is pretty reasonable approach from a totalitarian state that is looking to minimize any threat to its power.

i think i am on the side of the chinese on this one. since it is a state-run religion, why should they be taking orders from some old german conservative, sitting in rome? what does he know about the qualification of these guys to become bishops?. the most important qualification for this position should be their support of the government and its policies, the value of obedience, and only then the minor issue of their knowledge of the catholic principles, the bible and all that. 

the vatican position is that these bishops are now by definition ex-communicated (it's an automatic feature, also applied to women who go through abortion), since it was done without the vatican consent, and not according to due process. the vatican is really concerned that the new bishops have not gone through the required "spiritual preparation" for the job.

i assume "spiritual preparation" includes guidelines on how to collect money from the masses, bank account numbers for where to send the money, standard procedure for when you get caught with choir-boys, etc.

btw, this pope is really scary looking. at least john paul looked like a friendly grandpa. this one looks like he came out of the latest exorcist movie (playing the demon that needs to be exorcised..)