Things sometimes start well

and start to go bad soon after.

The bishop of Beijing, the Vatican and compromising with the Patriotic Association

"Mgr Li Shan, who was ordained the capital’s bishop with the approval of the Holy See, now apparently backs an independent Church. This is dividing the faithful and causing embarrassment to the Vatican. For more than a year now the Communist Party has been on the offensive to get official bishops to tow its line. But for Cardinal Zen the time of compromise is past."