Beijing, Dec. 22: China on Wednesday fired a fierce broadside at the Vatican, slamming its criticism of the country’s state-sanctioned Catholic church, which is not recognised by the Pope, as “imprudent” and “dangerous”.
The comments from China’s state administration for religious affairs came after the Vatican accused Beijing of “unacceptable and hostile acts”, following a meeting of state-approved bishops.
“The Vatican’s behaviour is very imprudent,” a spokesman for the administration said, adding that the remarks from the Holy See were an “attack on religious freedom in China”.
“The Vatican’s position is well-known. It works to promote political ideas under the pretext of religious belief, which is very dangerous and will seriously harm the healthy development of Chinese Catholicism in China.”