Senior official calls for independent Chinese Catholic Church

BEIJING -- China's top political advisor on Thursday urged Catholics to run their church independently and better integrate it into society.

Yu Zhengsheng, chairman of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference National Committee, made the remarks when meeting with the new leaders of Chinese Patriotic Catholic Association and Bishops Conference of Catholic Church of China after their latest national congresses concluded on Thursday.

The church should adhere to the principles of self-administration, run religious affairs independently and guide believers to adhere to the sinicization path of the religion, Yu said.