Cardinal Zen’s trial began on Monday, with yet more pressure on the Vatican
As the trial of Cardinal Joseph Zen got underway this week in Hong Kong, another cardinal has spoken up for the prelate following criticism by Cardinal Gerhard Ludwig Müller about the Vatican’s silence on both China’s abuses and Zen’s “unfair” trial. Writing in Italian newspaper Avvenire, the official paper of Italian bishops, Cardinal Fernando Filoni called Zen “a “man of God”; at times intemperate, but submissive to the love of Christ, who wanted him to be his priest” and “not to be condemned”, adding that “Hong Kong, China and the Church have a devoted son in him, not to be ashamed of.”
The Italian cardinal echoed the sentiment of German prelate Müller, a former prefect of the Vatican’s Congregation for the Doctrine of Faith, who told Il Messengero newspaper that – during a recent consistory – no senior Vatican official or even the Pope mentioned Zen, with “no solidarity document, no prayer initiative for him”. Müller believes the Vatican’s deal with the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) – which Zen has been extremely critical of – has undermined the possibility of support for the Hong Kong-based cleric, warning the deal “does not serve the interests of the Holy See and the Vatican State to the ecclesial dimension and the truth”.
Aside from Filoni and Müller, Pope Francis recently came in for criticism from another senior cleric who suggested his participation in an interfaith conference in Kazakhstan could imply papal endorsement of a “supermarket of religions”. Bishop Athanasius Schneider is one of the Pope’s most vocal critics, especially on “doctrinal ambiguities and overly progressive bent on issues such as homosexuality and interfaith outreach.” In 2019, he joined Cardinal Burke in criticising a document the Pope signed with the Grand Imam of al-Azhar University in Egypt which said all religions are “willed by God”, which appeared to some to contradict the principle that Catholicism provides the only true path to salvation. Schneider defended his criticism as respectful “fraternal” advice, borne out of love and providing “true help for the Church.” Schneider however urged the Vatican to reconsider participation in similar events and focus on building relationships at a local level.
The criticism by the two cardinals regarding Zen, meanwhile, should put pressure on Pope Francis and Cardinal Pietro Parolin – the latter critical to the Vatican’s deal with the CCP – to speak up forcefully on Zen’s behalf and rethink the China deal. Speaking recently, the Pope said “there is a dialogue commission that is going well” and Parolin “is the person right now who knows the most about China and dialogue with the Chinese.” The Pope even said he does “not identify with” designating China as undemocratic. Touching on Zen’s trial, the Pope claimed “he says what he feels, and you can see that there are limitations”. Parolin has previously said he was “very saddened” by Zen’s arrest, but that it should not be read as “a disavowal” of the deal.
Zen’s trial in Hong Kong was delayed after one judge tested positive for COVID. He was arrested under China’s national security law and, along with four others, faces charges of failing to properly register a now-defunct fund to help protesters. Zen and the other defendants have pleaded not guilty, although they could be convicted as foreign agents. Their defence is expected to cite a right to association under Hong Kong’s Basic Law. Police have not yet charged Zen with a national security offence, which could lead to life imprisonment. On the current charge, the defendants face a fine instead.
Instead of rethinking the deal with Beijing, Pope Francis has expressed hope that the deal struck with the CCP in 2018 will be renewed again soon, having already been renewed in 2020. Parolin, speaking about Zen’s arrest, said he hoped “that initiatives such as this one will not complicate the already complex and not simple path of dialogue.” Through the deal, the Vatican agreed to cooperate in the selection of bishops of a united Catholic Church in China. The objective was a merger of the Underground Catholic Church into the Chinese Patriotic Catholic Association (CPCA). While the Vatican had the final say on appointments, it could only select from CCP-approved candidates.
However, the CCP has itself seemed to renege on the deal, with no provision now for any papal role in the process of selecting bishops, or even a right to approve or veto appointments. The result of the deal has been ongoing persecution of Catholics, such as Bishop Augustine Cui Tai, who has been in jail on and off since 2007. Maybe the Pope and Parolin negotiated in good faith but now, having seen the truth of the situation, they should not be afraid to reassess the agreement. As for being above politics, the Vatican – unencumbered by economic considerations – is well placed to take a stand.
With even the Wall Street Journal accusing him of abandoning Zen, and offering no support, the Pope needs not only to speak up for Zen, but also to attach new conditions to the deal, if not abandon it. Conditions could include the release of all imprisoned clergy. The Pope has been less than forthright, as have many of his closest allies. Instead, it has fallen to cardinals like Filoni and Müller to speak up for Cardinal Zen, with criticism from other senior clerics towards Pope Francis’s approach to various matters. The CCP deal has undermined the authority of the Catholic Church and the CCP has shown itself to be a bad faith actor. The Pope must act now.
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