China/Vatican agreement: Broken? Plus news from Nicaragua and South Sudan

Where Peter Is

Vatican-China Deal Broken? On this week's debrief, Mike and Dominic return to discuss three bishops in the global Church: one from Asia, one from Latin America, and one from Africa. Topics: 1) Pope Francis officially appoints a bishop for Shanghai 2) Nicaraguan Bishop released, then returns to prison 3) A brief profile of a new African cardinal Summary and Links: 1) On July 15, Pope Francis officially appointed Bishop Joseph Shen Bin as bishop of Shanghai. Back in April, Bishop Shen was installed in Shanghai without the approval of the Holy See. Why did the Vatican approve this appointment three months later? Links: - "Analysis: Why Pope Francis recognized a bishop appointed in violation of Vatican-China deal" https://www.americamagazine.org/faith/2023/07/17/vatican-china-bishop-shanghai-245694 - "Cardinal Parolin: Pope appoints Shanghai bishop for good of diocese and dialogue" https://www.vaticannews.va/en/vatican-city/news/2023-07/cardinal-parolin-pope-appoints-shanghai-bishop-good-dialogue.html 2) Nicaraguan Catholic Bishop Rolando Alvarez was released from prison on July 4, but then returned to prison on July 5 after negotiations between Alvarez and the government broke down. Why did Bishop Alvarez return to prison? Links: - "Nicaragua: Bishop Álvarez sentenced to 26 years’ imprisonment" | Vatican News https://www.vaticannews.va/en/church/news/2023-02/bishop-alvarez-sentenced-to-26-years-imprisonment.html - "Nicaraguan Catholic Bishop Alvarez freed, talks going on" | Reuters https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/nicaraguan-catholic-bishop-alvarez-released-prison-local-media-2023-07-05/ - "Nicaraguan Catholic bishop back to jail after talks stall, local media report" | Reuters https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/nicaraguan-catholic-bishop-back-prison-after-talks-break-down-2023-07-05/ 3) South Sudanese Archbishop Stephen Ameyu faced stiff resistance when he was appointed to the Archdiocese of Juba in late 2019. Shortly after he was named archbishop, many in the archdiocese accused the archbishop of corruption, and of manipulating his way into the position — saying that he had influenced a Vatican diplomat and and even that he had fathered at least six children. Ameyu denied the allegations. In February of this year, Pope Francis visited South Sudan. By elevating him to the rank of cardinal, Francis seems to have reconfirmed his faith in his choice. Links: - "Meet Pope Francis’s new African cardinals" | Crux https://cruxnow.com/church-in-africa/2023/07/meet-pope-franciss-new-african-cardinals ABOUT THE DEBRIEF Intro Episode: https://youtu.be/LevSkGFqq4U A weekly show where we dive deep into the news, topics, questions, and controversies facing the Catholic Church today. Hosted by Dominic de Souza, founder of SmartCatholics, posing questions to Mike Lewis, editor and cofounder of Where Peter Is. We bring you commentary, analysis, and context on tough questions that the Church is facing. Whether you’re a devout Catholic, a curious seeker, or just interested in the news and happenings in the Church, join us for The Debrief. When it comes to news and controversies in the Catholic Church, stay curious, informed, and engaged. WHERE PETER IS Visit Where Peter Is to read articles, commentaries, and spiritual reflections by and for faithful Catholics who support the mission and vision of Pope Francis. https://wherepeteris.com SMARTCATHOLICS The conversation is brought to you from SmartCatholics.com, the free online community for millennials, creators, and learners. Join our private WherePeterIs group to ask questions, share insights, and suggest topics for next time. https://smartcatholics.com DONATE Consider becoming a Patreon sponsor for Where Peter Is. Your generosity will help us continue to bring valuable content to you and enhance the quality of this show. https://www.patreon.com/where_peter_is