China Nominates Bishop, Threatening Vatican Rift

China's state-controlled Catholic church has quietly nominated a new bishop for Beijing and the priest chosen said the government, not him, would decide whether to seek approval from Rome as Pope Benedict demanded.

The nomination of Father Li Shan, apparently so far without Vatican blessing, could widen the rift between Rome and Beijing just weeks after the Pope issued a letter calling for a unified Chinese church free of state interference.

China's 8 to 12 million Catholics are divided between an "above-ground" church approved by the ruling Communist Party and an "underground" church that rejects government ties and says it answers only to Rome.

The state-approved church widely honours the Pope as a spiritual figurehead, but the government restricts formal contacts with Rome, which has not had diplomatic ties with Beijing since 1951.

On June 30, Pope Benedict issued a letter on the Chinese church that urged reconciliation. But he said the Vatican must be allowed to pick its own bishops, possibly with some government consultation -- a claim China has rejected as interference in its domestic affairs.

The death in April of Beijing bishop Fu Tieshan, who did not have Rome's blessing, opened up a vacancy in China's most prominent diocese -- and presented a test for Beijing-Vatican relations.

Some church people had hoped that in the wake of the Pope's letter, China would make a gesture of goodwill by giving Rome some say in naming his successor.

But the likely elevation of Li, who said he had not been in contact with the Vatican, may renew tensions if he is appointed without papal blessing.

Li, a priest in his 40s for a church in the city's commercial heart, was endorsed by a group of dozens of clergy and lay people from the state-approved Beijing diocese on Monday, two sources familiar with the decision told Reuters.

Li told Reuters he had not been in contact with the Vatican and it was not for him to decide whether to do so.

"It's up to the government to decide," he said. "I haven't considered that, because there are a lot of things that need to be done. There's still a long time."

He said his nomination had been submitted to China's state-controlled council of bishops, which in turn would consult with "other authorities".

His likely appointment could draw ire in the Vatican if, as seems possible, it goes ahead without papal approval.

These days the majority of bishops even in China's state-approved church secure Rome's blessing, and in his letter the Pope said they should make a point of announcing that approval when they take up their positions.

Two sources familiar with the Chinese church said the Vatican was closely watching developments in Beijing. Speaking on condition of anonymity, they described Li as a kindly but unassertive priest.

"He may be too meek to take on this very tough role," one of the sources said. He said there had been other candidates considered at the Monday election, but it was clear Li was the "official favourite".

Liu Bainian, vice-chairman of the Chinese Catholic Patriotic Association, who often speaks for the state-controlled body, said any decision on a bishop was in the hands of the bishops council.

On source said Li's formal appointment could come as early as next week, when state-approved clergy gather in Beijing for celebrations focused on the Patriotic Association.