Vatican Guidelines of 2019

The “Pastoral guidelines of the Holy See concerning the civil registration of clergy in China” (圣座关于中国神职人员民事登记的牧灵指导), a document published by the Vatican on June 28, 2019, instructing Catholic Bishops and priests who were part of the Underground Catholic Church on how they should register and join the Chinese Patriotic Catholic Association. The text also allows Catholic conscientious objectors to remain outside the Patriotic Association for reasons of conscience.