BISHOP Julius Jia Zhiguo of the underground Chinese Diocese of Zheng Ding was released after five days of detention, a human rights group said.
Joseph Kung, president of the Connecticut-based Cardinal Kung Foundation, said the prelate had been arrested on June 13 by two policemen in the Hebei province in northeast China along with Trappist Father Placid Pei Ronggui.
Mr Kung gave no details about the release, and there was no word on the bishop’s whereabouts. The priest had been released earlier, but details weren’t available.
Bishop Jia Zhiguo heads one of the most active dioceses in the province, which has about 1.5 million Catholics.