TORONTO - As Chinese and U.S. diplomats sought a resolution to the diplomatic crisis surrounding Chinese activist Chen Guangcheng, many Chinese-Americans turned their attention to the nature of Chen's dissent.

Without challenging any fundamental tenet of China's constitution or its 1949 revolution, Chen has focused attention to the country's forced abortion and sterilization practices, leading to a crackdown by the government on his movement and prohibitions on contact with foreigners and the media.

NANCHONG, China - Bishop Joseph Chen Gong'ao was ordained April 19 as the bishop of Nanchong and made a pledge to strengthen formation and promote new evangelization.

The 47-year-old prelate, the first Chinese bishop to be ordained this year, was approved by Pope Benedict XVI and is recognized by the Chinese government, reported the Asian church news agency UCA News.

He told UCA News that his priority is to enhance the quality of priests, seminarians and nuns so that "the diocese's evangelistic work would be developed in a more systematic manner."

HONG KONG - Two Chinese bishops not recognized by the government were freed by authorities on Easter, church sources told the Asian church news agency UCA News.

Coadjutor Bishop Peter Shao Zhumin of Wenzhou, in eastern Zhejiang province, and Bishop Peter Jin Lugang of Nanyang, in central Henan province, were detained, respectively, for four weeks and for four days.

VATICAN CITY - The Vatican's highest-ranking Chinese official called on Beijing to release nine arrested Catholic bishops and priests, saying their continued detention "damages China's international image."

Archbishop Savio Hon Tai-fai, secretary of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples, made his remarks in an interview published Jan. 17 by AsiaNews, a Rome-based missionary news agency.