Cardinal Zen (also known as Chen Rijun), bishop emeritus of Hong Kong and one of the highest-ranking Catholic clergy in Asia, was arrested by Hong Kong police for reportedly violating Hong Kong’s National Security Law.
The 90-year-old cardinal, along with five others, was arrested for not correctly registering the 612 Humanitarian Relief Fund created by the group. The Fund, established in 2019, offered medical, legal, and financial assistance to demonstrators who were arrested or injured in June of that same year.
The Vatican has remained silent since the cardinal’s arrest, drawing criticism from both Catholics and the general public. When asked by a reporter whether the cardinal’s arrest was a violation of religious freedom, Pope Francis surprisingly replied that he respected the Chinese government’s opinions. Cardinal Zen had sharply criticized the Vatican in the past for aligning with China regarding the appointment of bishops, highlighting a divide within the church over its relationship with communist China.
According to Deutsche Welle (DW), the 612 Foundation was forced to cease operations after records of the foundation’s recipients and beneficiaries were obtained. The foundation’s lawyer stated that, because it was not a society, the foundation was not required to register, and therefore, it was not in violation of any laws.
On September 26, French news media Le Figaro reported that the cardinal’s trial, which was scheduled that week, had been postponed due to some members of the jury getting COVID-19.
The outlet stated that the trial mirrored the realities of the Catholic Church in China. Cardinal Zen is famous for supporting the fight for democracy and human rights, especially the right to religious freedom. By arresting the 90-year-old bishop emeritus, the Chinese authorities are sending a warning message to the people of Hong Kong.
None of the six defendants has pleaded guilty. If convicted, they could each face a fine of up to 10,000 Hong Kong dollars.
The Vatican’s concerning relationship with China
After decades of tension, in 2018, the Vatican signed a historic agreement with China regarding the assignment of bishops to the Mainland. Though the contents have remained secret, the agreement was renewed in 2020 and is expected to be renewed again in 2022.
Cardinal Zen has repeatedly denounced the arrangement, stating that the Catholic Church’s compliance is “Crazy!… One should not go along with the devil, but should fight it. The Church should never receive any order from a government. This applies to any country!”
After China appointed seven bishops of its choosing, the Vatican acknowledged the appointments, and then sent a delegation to attend “The Third Chinese-International Organ Donation Conference” held in Xian, China in 2018.
During the conference, the Vatican’s delegation also announced that it allied with China regarding the issue of organ sales, a stance that led to heated international discussion. By that time, the Chinese government’s crime of forced live organ harvesting from Falun Gong practitioners and Uyghurs had been well-documented. In fact, it had even been officially condemned in resolutions passed by both the U.S. Congress and European Parliament.
Support for Cardinal Zen is growing
On September 22, Cardinal Fernando Filoni, Prefect Emeritus of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples, posted an open letter in support of Cardinal Zen. The letter stated that Cardinal Zen has the right to freedom — a right that should be guarded by every political and civil group. Cardinal Filoni is the first high-ranking Vatican ex-clergy to stand up for Cardinal Zen. In contrast to Pope Francis’ reticence, Filoni’s letter equates to a bombshell in the Roman Catholic Church.
Additional support has arisen in the U.S. On October 3, U.S. senators from both parties, including Kevin Cramer, Angus King, Jim Risch, and Alex Padilla, introduced a resolution condemning the arrest of Cardinal Zen, stating: “The story of Cardinal Zen (Chen) is only one of many such instances of religious persecution and infringement on democratic freedom in China and around the world…” The resolution “urges the Chinese and Hong Kong authorities to cease targeting Hong Kong’s civil society actors and to immediately release and drop all charges against all political prisoners who have been unjustly detained and charged.”
As support increases for Cardinal Zen, it remains to be seen what will come of his arrest, as well as the increasingly cozy relationship between the Vatican and communist China.
Translated by Audrey Wang
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