Cardinal Zen has had it.

Frustrated over a recent spate of episcopal ordinations not authorised by the Holy See, Hong Kong Cardinal Joseph Zen has called on Pope Benedict to excommunicate China’s state-appointed bishops.

The time had come for the Vatican to take an uncompromising stance, Cardinal Zen said, according to a UK Daily Telegraph report.

"I think people in the underground Church and also in the good part of the official Church don’t expect the Holy See to ratify this ordination easily, and they don’t expect the Holy See to absolve these bishops from sanctions," he said.

In canon law, both those ordaining and being ordained are liable to excommunication if it is without Church approval.

Cardinal Zen said that the Vatican had acted quickly to excommunicate Archbishop Emmanuel Milingo, the former archbishop of Lusaka who married and then conducted four ordinations of rebel bishops.

Until recently, a compromise held whereby the official Church would only elevate bishops after receiving an indication from Rome that the candidate had the Vatican’s approval. But according to Cardinal Zen, this compromise had run its course, the Telegraph said.