From Reuters via the Financial Times (link)
Pope Benedict said on Thursday China’s appointment of two Catholic bishops without his blessing was a “grave violation of religious freedom” as a standoff with Beijing over control of church posts escalated.
The bishops were consecrated this week despite Vatican opposition in what was seen as a major setback for relations between the Holy See and China, which had appeared to be improving in recent years.
The Vatican noted that Church law prescribed automatic excommunication for bishops and priests who conduct unauthorised consecrations, but the Pope’s spokesman said the Vatican did not have enough information to decide this at the moment.