According to Asia News, a Catholic in Wangli (Cangnan County, Zhejiang province) was fined last month for offering his private chapel to the bishop of Wenzhou diocese, Msgr. Peter Shao Zhumin, who is only recognized by the Pope, not by the Chinese Communist Party.

On the 16th of March Mr. Huang Ruixun, 56, offered his chapel to Msgr. Shao Zhumin and about twenty Catholics. As a result, he was sentenced to a hefty fine of 200,000 yuan (USD 30.860) under the charge “hosting the bishop for illegal religious activities, also providing him with lunch, a rest room, etc.”

Huang also reportedly violated the state-sanctioned Catholic church’s principle, since “the organiser of illegal activities was ordained by a foreign institution, this goes against the principle of independence, autonomy and self-administration of the Church in China.”

This goes on to show that despite a renewed Sino-Vatican deal, underground Catholics in China have not been granted religious freedom and unity with the official Church, as the Holy See has hoped.

Source: persecution.org