CHINESE BISHOPS LEAD A PROCESSION TO AN ORDINATION AT A BEIJING CATHEDRAL, 2000-01-06 (photo)

Chinese bishops lead a procession outside Beijing's Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception before an ordination of five new bishops by China's state-backed Catholic church January 6. The timing of the ceremony appeared to be an open challenge to the Pope, just hours before he was due to ordain 12 new bishops around the world at St. Peter's in Rome. China's determination to go ahead with the ordination in the face of blunt Vatican denunciations appeared to mark the breakdown of talks aimed at establishing diplomatic relations, now stymied by the Vatican's ties with Taiwan. ASW/CC