China rejects Vatican call on bishops - paper

BEIJING, July 26 (Reuters) China rejects the Vatican's demand that it stop appointing bishops without papal approval but is willing to talk, a state newspaper said today, adding to uncertainty over Beijing's next bishop.

China's some 12 million Catholics are split between an ''above-ground'' Church approved by the ruling Communist Party and an ''underground'' Church that rejects government ties and says it answers only to Rome.

On June 30, Pope Benedict issued a letter on China's Catholics that urged reconciliation. But he said the Vatican must have the power to choose bishops, possibly with government consultation -- a claim China has rejected as interference.

The death in April of Beijing bishop Fu Tieshan, who did not have Rome's blessing, opened a vacancy in China's most prominent diocese and has created a test for relations cut since 1951.

Uncertainty remains whether Fu's probable successor, Father Li Shan, who was nominated by city clergy and lay people earlier this month, will ask, or be allowed, to seek Vatican approval.

An editorial in the China Daily, the country's official English-language paper, appeared to give little leeway.

''We see no ground for such intervention,'' the paper said.

''There are no diplomatic relations between China and the Vatican. There is no agreement between them on bishop selection and ordination.'' But Chinese authorities had made a ''show of sincerity'' by giving advance notice to the Vatican of recent appointments of bishops, the paper said.

Beijing was willing to have a dialogue with the Vatican over how bishops were appointed, it said. These days most bishops even in China's state-approved church have won Rome's blessing.

Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone last week said Li was a ''very good, well-suited candidate'' and ''we hope they seek the Holy See's approval,'' according to the Rome-based Zenit news agency.

''We are waiting and we are optimistic,'' he said.

The Chinese paper's comments came as the Catholic Patriotic Association -- the government's vehicle for controlling church affairs -- celebrated its 50th anniversary.

The vice-president of the Association, Liu Bainian, who often speaks on its behalf, heavily qualified earlier comments that he hoped the Pope would come to Beijing.

Liu told the China Daily that a visit depended on the Pope severing diplomatic ties with Taiwan -- the self-governed island that Beijing considers an illegitimate breakaway -- and renouncing ''interference in China's internal affairs''.

The Vatican has long maintained ties with Taiwan, but has indicated it would be willing to switch diplomatic recognition to mainland China if its concerns about religious controls can be resolved.

REUTERS LPB RAI1034