Vatican: Beijing Has Breached Pact on Bishop Appointments
This latest incident confirms that with respect to non-statist ideology on its turf, the Chinese Communist Party prefers to maintain a vice-like grip.
This latest incident confirms that with respect to non-statist ideology on its turf, the Chinese Communist Party prefers to maintain a vice-like grip.
The magistrate classified the incriminated fund supported by Cardinal Zen as having been established solely for “political aims.”
Cardinal Zen’s arrest in May sparked a wave of international outrage, in contrast to the Vatican’s relative discretion on the matter. This ‘prudence,’ which could be viewed as excessive, provides the morally murky atmosphere necessary for the Vatican to renew the agreement with communist China.
Some people think things have only gotten worse since the 2018 agreement was signed. Vatican diplomacy defends it as a way to protect the Church’s presence in China, even if unsatisfactory.
Cardinal Joseph Zen, Bishop Emeritus of Hong Kong since 2009, was arrested on May 11th by the Chinese authorities, along with other pro-democracy activists on
The arrests were made under the security law enacted by the Chinese government in June 2020. A wave of international protests followed the announcement.
The state-affiliated newspaper Ta Kung Pao accused Hong Kong Cardinal Joseph Zen of inciting student riots in 2019. A crackdown on religious liberties by the CCP might be on the horizon.
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