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Catholic World News News Feature

Hong Kong prelate rebuts criticism from Beijing March 09, 2006

Hong Kong's Cardinal-designate Joseph Zen Ze-Kiun has responded to criticism by a leader of the Chinese Patriotic Association, in a letter obtained by the AsiaNews service.

Liu Bainian, the vice-president of the Chinese Patriotic Association, has "posed himself as the judge of Pope Benedict XVI" by criticizing his appointment as a cardinal, Bishop Zen said. Liu Bainain had charged that the Pontiff showed a lack of respect for China by choosing Bishop Zen without prior consultation with the Beijing leadership.

The criticism of his appointment, Bishop Zen noted, contradicted an earlier statement by the same official, Liu Bianain, saying that the Hong Kong prelate would be welcome to visit the mainland. The cardinal-elect said that the mixed signals show "how worried [Liu] is with the prospect of a normalization of relations between China and the Holy See."

Bishop Zen went on to suggest that despite its claims, the government-supported Patriotic Association does not represent the views of most Chinese Catholics. "Liu presents himself as the representative of the official Church," the cardinal-elect said, "but if freedom were granted to the bishops, priests, and faithful to speak out, one would hear views that are very different."

[The full text of Bishop Zen's statement is available on the AsiaNews web site.]