China, Vatican at odds about bishop's ordination

BEIJING -- China and the Vatican are again sparring over the ordination of a new bishop, underscoring the lack of progress toward resolving the most contentious issue dividing the sides.

A statement issued Wednesday by China's State Bureau of Religious Affairs accused the Holy See of obstructing the development of Catholicism in China by wielding the threat of excommunication over the ordination of a new bishop of the northern city of Harbin.

"We urge the Vatican to rescind the so-called 'excommunication' threat and return to the correct position of dialogue," the statement said.