China: Bishop arrested
The Chinese authorities have arrested another Catholic bishop this week, the US-based Cardinal Kung Foundation reports. Bishop Julius Jia Zhiguo, who is a member of 'underground' Church in China, was taken from his home in the northern city of Zhengding. Two priests from his diocese - Li Suchuan and Yang Ermeng - are also under arrest. The Foundation said this is the eighth time in two years that the bishop had been detained. It added that the agents who arrested him in Zhengding, some 240km (150 miles) south-west of Beijing, said they were taking him to a "study session". Joseph Kung, president of the foundation, appealed for countries entering into trade relations with China to try to exert more influence on the way it treats Christians. He said the International Olympic Committee should consider cancelling the 2008 Games in Beijing as "a bargaining chip to improve China's human rights and religious freedom practice". Source: Cardinal Kung Foundation