[Judica me]

Jurisdiction has to come through the Church, according to ecclesiastical law, or at least the tacit consent of the Roman Pontiff.

OK, so in China one can only go to confession to and receive absolution from, a Communist?

[gbcdoj]

Uh... Judica, you do realize that the hierarchy of the true Catholic Church in China (ie, non-Patriotic), is supervised and appointed by Rome, right? That's why they're being persecuted, because they're faithful to the Apostolic See, unlike the schismatic Communists. I suggest you check out the website of the Cardinal Kung Foundation. You can see the latest instructions from the delegate of the Holy See to the true Church in China here, on their website.

Ironically, I understand that until recently the Patriotic bishops and priests still used the Tridentine Mass, whereas the real Catholics immediately switched to the Pauline Rite in ~1970. So, according to traditionalist logic, it would have been better to attend the communist Mass than the Catholic Mass!