China, Vatican Spar Over Ordination of Bishop China and the Vatican are again sparring over the ordination of a new bishop. China's State Bureau of Religious Affairs issued a statement Wednesday accusing the Holy See of obstructing the development of Catholicism in China by opposing the ordination of a new bishop of the northern city of Harbin. That followed a note from the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples in Rome that the Rev. Yue Fusheng did not have papal approval and risks excommunication if he agrees to be ordained, along with any bishops participating in the ceremony. The ordination of bishops is the most contentious issue dividing Beijing and the Vatican, who have no formal relations. China's officially atheistic government ordered Chinese Catholics to cut ties with Rome more than five decades ago.