WENZHOU (UCAN): Bishop Shao Zhuming, from Wenzhou, who has been missing since security officials detained him in April, just before Easter, has resurfaced at a Beijing hospital. Through a WeChat message, the bishop from the unofficial Church community said he was scheduled to have ear surgery on September 11.
 
“Many thanks for all who pray for me, especially for the smoothness of my surgery today,” the bishop wrote in his message.
 
A photo of the bishop went viral on the Internet on September 8. A source said that it was taken at Beijing’s Tongren Hospital where he was to have his surgery. 
 
The source was not able to confirm if Bishop Shao was still under detention and believed that the government would not take care of the bishop’s post-surgery but said, “He needs to take a half year to recuperate after the surgery as there is something installed in his head.” 
 
The authorities have been pushing Bishop Shao to join the Chinese Catholic Patriotic Association which not recognised by the Vatican and pursues an independent church policy that is incompatible with Catholic doctrine.
 
Wenzhou reportedly has around 80,000 Catholics who are part of the unofficial Church with another 50,000 in the official community.
 
Church media outside China has reported that authorities are also demanding Bishop Shao persuade the Vatican to appoint a priest from the official community as his coadjutor bishop.