Chinese Patriotic Catholic Association
The Chinese Patriotic Catholic Association (CPA or CCPA) is the recognized official Catholic Church established by the Communist government of the People's Republic of China. Critics of the CPCA argue that the main purpose of the CPCA is to establish state control over Catholicism in China.
The CPA is a schism from the Catholic Church. The unofficial Catholic Church, in communion with the Pope, does exist in China, although members are subject to official harassment, and some leaders have been jailed for what are widely believed to be political reasons. In Mainland China there are about 4 million members of the CPA, and 12 million members of the authentic ("underground") Catholic Church. However, there is considerable overlap in the two, and there are estimates that as many as 70 percent of the priests in the official church have also received secret ordinations in the unofficial church.
The existence of the CCPA in place of an official church under the authority of the Vatican has prevented the Holy See from establishing diplomatic relations with the People's Republic of China; it instead continues to recognize the Republic of China government on Taiwan.
Among the novel teachings of the CPA are support for artificial contraception and abortion, and a rejection of the Pope's authority. In addition, the CPA rejects Catholic doctrine formulated after 1949, notably the Vatican II council. As a result, all masses conducted by the CPA are according to the Tridentine rite.
See also: Religion in China, Three-Self Patriotic Movement, Chinese house church