China and sovereignty

At the risk of beating a dead horse, this past week saw yet another illicit ordination of a Chinese priest as the state-appointed bishop of the Diocese of Shantou.  The priest in question incurs a canonical penalty of excommunication latae sententiae.  In other words, if one chooses to freely engage in an activity contrary to the laws of the Church, one removes oneself from the body of the faithful by their own action and not by the power of any authority.

The Vatican used still firmer language to condemn and lament the act.  Here's the statement:

Episcopal Ordination in the Diocese of Shantou
(Province of Guangdong, Mainland China)

The following clarifications are issued with reference to the episcopal
ordination of the Reverend Joseph Huang Bingzhang which took place on
Thursday, 14 July 2011:

1) The Reverend Joseph Huang Bingzhang, having been ordained without papal
mandate and hence illicitly, has incurred the sanctions laid down by canon
1382 of the Code of Canon Law. Consequently, the Holy See does not
recognize him as Bishop of the Diocese of Shantou, and he lacks authority
to govern the Catholic community of the Diocese. 
The Reverend Huang Bingzhang had been informed some time ago that he could
not be approved by the Holy See as an episcopal candidate, inasmuch as the
Diocese of Shantou already has a legitimate Bishop; Reverend Huang had been
asked on numerous occasions not to accept episcopal ordination.

2) From various sources the Holy See had knowledge of the fact that some
Bishops, contacted by the civil authorities, had expressed their
unwillingness to take part in an illicit ordination and also offered
various forms of resistance, yet were reportedly obliged to take part in
the ordination.
With regard to this resistance, it should be noted that it is meritorious
before God and calls for appreciation on the part of the whole Church.
Equal appreciation is also due to those priests, consecrated persons and
members of the faithful who have defended their pastors, accompanying them
by their prayers at this difficult time and sharing in their deep
suffering.

3) The Holy See reaffirms the right of Chinese Catholics to be able to act
freely, following their consciences and remaining faithful to the Successor
of Peter and in communion with the universal Church.
The Holy Father, having learned of these events, once again deplores the
manner in which the Church in China is being treated and hopes that the
present difficulties can be overcome as soon as possible.

From the Vatican, 16 July 2011

Throughout the recent past China has typically asserted that the ordinations of its bishops has been a mere exercise of the state's sovereignty and the rights of the state should not be an object of interference from outside nations.  Treating the Holy See as an outside nation is something easily done, but it is a theologically bankrupt position.  When churches break ecclesial communion with the pope, they no longer hold the same unity, holiness, apostolicity, and catholicity as those churches that remain in communion.  They are untethered.  Sovereignty then becomes hollow.