Posted on 08/31/2015 6:30:55 PM PDT by marshmallow
Largest Chinese diocese may not be represented at Vatican gathering
The head of the largest Chinese Catholic diocese in the world will be absent from the World Synod of Bishops in October because he has been deemed to be too old.
Cardinal John Tong Hon of Hong Kong was not invited to participate in this year’s synod, which will focus on the family, because he is older than 75.
“Now I know that I am not going to the synod," the 76-year-old cardinal told ucanews.com in a late August interview.
The cardinal said he was told by a Vatican representative that the Vatican "does not want to make any exceptions" regarding age.
Cardinal Tong said he was unaware if another representative from Hong Kong was chosen in his place. He knew only that he was “disqualified by age,” he said, laughing.
“They will find somebody … if they need somebody,” the cardinal said.
Synod participants in general are elected by local bishops’ conferences. Owing to historical reasons, Hong Kong, a former British colony and the largest Chinese diocese in the world with a Catholic population of 560,000, remains a mission area and does not have its own bishops’ conference.
Some Hong Kong Catholics expressed disappointment that the diocese may not be represented at the synod.
“It is a pity that no one from Hong Kong is going,” Francis Law, a member of a Chinese Facebook page called “Catholic Parents”, told ucanews.com.
(Excerpt) Read more at ucanews.com ...
Ageism.
Yeah, it’s always been different for the Pope. However, troublemaker Walter Kaspar is 82, why does he get to make mischief?
Lucky them.
Cardinal Lorenzo Baldiserri (the book thief) will once again chair Francis’ SinNod II.
Baldiserri turns 75 this September 29th. The SinNod II does not convene until October.
Kaspar is there because like Francis he’s a liberal. The Chinese Cardinal is probably conservative, who are shunned by Francis and his cohorts.
The rules don’t apply to thugs.
Hu’s on first?
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