Official Communication from the Diocese of Xinxiang

To the beloved faithful of the Diocese of Xinxiang:

I, Bishop Zhang Weizhu, entrusted by the Representative of Jesus Christ to shepherd the People of God in Xinxiang, send you my sincere greetings and heartfelt blessings in the Lord.

Since my appointment by the Holy Father in February 1998 to succeed Bishop Zhang Huaixin as the Apostolic Administrator of Xinxiang, I have sought to govern this local Church in obedience to the Successor of Peter. However, the Church on earth is a Church militant, often facing dark forces that exploit human weakness to undermine the Apostolic Hierarchy established by Christ.

The Case of Fr. Li Jianlin:

The Diocese has suffered from grave acts of disobedience. Initially, Fr. Zhang Junxiang, unlawfully claiming the title of “Administrator,” issued illicit letters of dimissorial to ordain Fr. Li Jianlin. Fr. Li then failed to establish a legitimate canonical affiliation and proceeded to unlawfully establish a religious congregation and send seminarians to study—powers reserved exclusively to the Diocesan Bishop.

Despite numerous attempts at fraternal correction and letters from the Holy See urging his unconditional obedience, Fr. Li Jianlin has remained obstinate. He continues to:

1. Administer Sacraments Illicitly and Invalidly: He performs baptisms and witnesses marriages without canonical faculty.

2. Usurp the Power of the Keys: He hears confessions and attempts to grant absolution despite having no faculty to absolve sins, thereby endangering the eternal salvation of the faithful.

3. Acts of Schism: He operates independently of the Diocesan Bishop, spreading subversion among the faithful and disrupting the pastoral order.

Decree of Censure:

For the glory of God and the preservation of the sacred order, I, as the Bishop of Xinxiang, must impose the following penalties to curb these scandals:

1. Excommunication: Fr. Li Jianlin is hereby placed under formal Excommunication (Excommunicatio).

2. Prohibition of Sacraments: All clergy and faithful are strictly forbidden to have any sacramental communion with him (except in danger of death).

3. Status of Groups: The religious groups established by him are not recognized by the Church. Any seminarian wishing to serve in Xinxiang must submit to the authority of the legitimate Bishop.

May the faithful remain steadfast in the faith and witness to the unity of the Church.

Signed,

† Bishop Zhang Weizhu

Bishop of Xinxiang

July 16, 2011