Communism Sets Crosshairs on Vatican

Kong

Catholic Cardinal Joseph Zen appeared before a CCP-run Hong Kong court on charges of “conspiracy to collude with foreign forces.” The charges brought against the cardinal are emblematic of an irreversible degeneration in the city-state– one that should cause the Vatican to reassess earlier efforts to pursue closer relations with China.

While the Hong Kong federal government stated that the arrest of the 90-year-old retired archbishop was specifically based upon his involvement with the 612 Humanitarian Relief Fund, his outspokenness on the Chinese Communist Party’s persecution of Christians suggests that there are other motivations to restrict his authority as a spiritual leader.

Zen became bishop of the Hong Kong Diocese in 2002, rose to main by Pope Benedict XVI in 2006 and retired in 2009. His advocacy in defense of political flexibility and of the Catholic Church in China and Hong Kong has in fact specified his ministry.

In 2011, he started a three-day hunger strike to oppose the Hong Kong Supreme Court’s option to increase Chinese control over Christian education. Furthermore, he provided financial assistance to Catholics in mainland China and silently rallied Hong Kong Christians in the 2014 Occupy Central motion and 2019 pro-democracy demonstrations. He has likewise voiced criticism of the 2018 deal between China and the Vatican.

The China-Vatican deal, highly supported by Pope Francis and Vatican Secretary of State Pietro Parolin, was meant to deal with the visit of bishops and ameliorate departments in between the underground church and the state-sponsored Catholic Patriotic Association. The Vatican similarly acknowledged 7 excommunicated bishops who were chosen by the Chinese federal government. Seriously, the 2018 deal used the Vatican veto power over Catholic bishops picked by Beijing. Francis hoped that it would produce a medium for “dialogue” between China and the Holy See.

Nevertheless, Zen stated that it would  “kill” and “sell out” the underground church. He likewise revealed a deep skepticism of Parolin, considering him as someone driven by politics instead of faith.

The China-Vatican deal might likewise have some ramifications for Taiwan. In January, the Vatican revealed strategies to withdraw apostolic nuncio Monsignor Arnaldo Catalan from his post in Taiwan. That has actually raised issues that the Vatican may change its primary recommendation of Taiwan to develop diplomatic relations with China.

The deal was rendered in sharp relief against a backdrop of ever-increasing religious persecution in China. Clergy who decline to kowtow to Beijing’s orders are jailed and subject to brainwashing and abuse. In Hong Kong, Christian schools are required to teach about the National Security Law, and priests have actually begun to self-censor. Hong Kong Catholics fear that the National Security Law will even more limit spiritual liberty. Even the Tiananmen Square massacre memorial Masses were canceled this year.

The disconcerting situation embodied by Zen’s arrest and growing repression versus the church has actually generated combined actions. Vatican representative Matteo Bruni expressed “concern” over the cardinal’s arrest. Parolin specified that he didn’t desire Zen’s arrest to impact the Vatican’s deal with China, which is anticipated to be renewed this fall. Otherwise, the Vatican has actually been quiet on the Chinese Communist Party’s persecution of Christians and other religious minorities.

The Vatican requires to end its efforts to comfy roughly Beijing. The 2018 deal was brought back in 2020 and is up for renewal in the future this year. The Vatican ought to not renew the offer or take any extra actions to change main acknowledgment from Taiwan to Beijing.

Instead, the Vatican ought to speak more urgently on behalf of the brutally oppressed, and persecuted Christians in China.

Zen is the “new conscience of Hong Kong” and has in fact made his mark on Asia. While the faithful may feel “sold out” by the Vatican’s offer, Zen stands undaunted in his defense of Catholicism. Hong Kong authorities may toss the cardinal in prison, however they can not prison Christianity and the hope it utilizes to many of China’s faithful.

H/T The Daily Signal

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