I hadn't seen this connection made between the legitimacy of the Patriotic Association and support of its autonomy before:
On the support given by American and European theologians to the "autonomy" of the Chinese Church
HON: Unfortunately, there is a theology in America and Europe that is also penetrating into the Chinese Church. This theology claims precisely autonomy in the selection of bishops, and independence from the Holy See. And so there are persons in America and Europe who are pushing the Chinese bishops to behave this way. "If you succeed," they say, "we will follow you."
Until a short time ago, these problems of independence and autonomy were only at the level of governance. Now they are also at the theological level.
