The Vatican is sending diplomats to request (demand?) the release of eight Catholic bishops being detained by the Communist Chinese:
The talks were disclosed by Cardinal Joseph Zen, who has watched with alarm as recent moves to reconcile the Vatican with China have turned into a strident confrontation.
The breach came when Chinese officials ordered the appointment of three bishops not approved by Rome, wrecking months of patient diplomacy.
Cardinal Zen, who was elevated to the dignity of a Cardinal in March, said in an interview last week that envoys from Rome were in Beijing for closed-door talks, despite the mutual public recriminations, to try to prevent things getting worse for priests and bishops loyal to the Pope.
The situation on the ground hasn’t quite reached the level of crisis, but the Vatican is being very forward in putting the Communists on guard. Will they acquiesce to the demands of religious freedom, or will the 2008 Olympics be held under the dark cloud of repression?
Did I mention how much I love this Pope?