Amid tensions in China, Vatican tells clergy to follow their conscience

Amid tensions in China, Vatican tells clergy to follow their conscience: VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- The Vatican has told bishops and priests in China that they must follow their own consciences in deciding whether to register with the government.



The problem, the Vatican said, is that registration almost always requires the bishop or priest to accept "the principle of independence, autonomy and self-administration of the church in China," which could be read as a denial of one's bonds with the pope and the universal church.