Hong Kong leader upsets Catholics with 'llicit'China Mass

Hong Kong, China - Hong Kong's leader Donald Tsang was embroiled in a controversy with his church Tuesday after attending a mass led by a bishop ordained without Vatican approval.

Tsang, a devout Catholic, attended a mass in Kunming celebrated by Bishop Ma Yinglin. The latter was appointed by China without the Holy See's blessing in a move that has badly soured Beijing-Vatican relations.

Hong Kong Chief Executive Tsang and his wife Selina were pictured on the front page of Tuesday's South China Morning Post shaking hands with Bishop Ma at Monday's service.

The couple, who are on an official visit to the south-western Chinese city, received communion from a priest concelebrating mass with Bishop Ma, who was appointed in May, the report said.

Tsang attended the service despite a Vatican directive warning Catholics against attending services conducted by bishops and priests who do not have the Holy See's approval.

A church source quoted by the newspaper described Tsang's actions as 'a great scandal,' saying: 'He gave a very bad example to Catholics in mainland China and in Hong Kong. He cannot plead that he did not know.'

Hong Kong Catholic diocese chancellor Lawrence Lee Len, without referring specifically to Tsang, said it was 'grossly inappropriate' for a Catholic to knowingly attend a mass celebrated by an unauthorized priest or bishop.

The appointment of Bishop Ma and another bishop by China in May has set back hopes of diplomatic ties between Beijing and the Vatican being restored after more than half a century.

Reacting to the controversy, Tsang told the government-run radio station RTHK Tuesday evening he hoped his religious beliefs would not be 'turned into a political issue'.

He said he always attended morning mass when he was out of Hong Kong, wherever he was in the world, and said he had never asked the priest to show 'his licence' before the ceremony.

Tsang was appointed chief executive in 2005 after the resignation of his predecessor Tung Chee-hwa. He is expected to be reappointed for a full five-year term in 2007.

Hong Kong, a former British colony with a population of 6.8 million, is home to an estimated 250,000 Roman Catholics and around 60,000 Anglican worshippers.