Catholics barred from mainland China

HONG KONG, OCT. 9, 2000 (ZENIT.org).- Catholic Church members have been banned entry to mainland China after supporting the Vatican's canonization of 120 Chinese and missionary martyrs, according to a local bishop quoted by the South China Morning Post.

Speaking on RTHK this morning, Bishop Joseph Zen Ze-kiun said that Catholics recently applying to teach or preach on the mainland have been turned down without reason, according to the Post.

''Members of the Catholic Church in Hong Kong have received calls from various mainland officials and Church representatives warning them not to visit the mainland," he was quoted as saying. ''Visiting places where the martyrs died is especially discouraged until things cool off.''

ZE00100921