The government body that oversees Catholics in China has accused the Vatican of "damaging the solidarity of Catholics in China".A commentary responding to the Vatican's latest communiqué to Chinese faithful appeared on the website of the Chinese Catholic Patriotic Association in China (CCPA) and the state-approved bishops' conference last week.
It also said the communiqué damaged the Church's pastoral work and showed a lack of understanding of the situation of the Church in China.
The Vatican communiqué urged bishops and priests to ensure the laity are instructed in the teachings of the Second Vatican Council, in particular the ecclesiology and the social doctrine of the Church.
A spokesperson for the Beijing-approved Church, Fr Joseph Yang Yu, said the commentary "represents thoughts of numerous Chinese faithful".