After Papal Meeting, Cardinal Zen Says Vatican ‘Selling Out’ Church in China

The Catholic Herald (UK) ^ | 1/29/18 | Staff Reporter

[marshmallow]

The cardinal revealed details of a private audience with Pope Francis

Cardinal Joseph Zen has accused the Vatican of “selling out” the Catholic Church in China.

In a post on his website, the former Bishop of Hong Kong said Pope Francis offered words of consolation to the ‘underground’ Church in the country in a private audience earlier this month. However, the cardinal still thinks the Vatican is working against the Church.

A report on AsiaNews last week said a Vatican delegation had asked one ‘underground’ bishop to resign and another to accept demotion. The delegation wanted excommunicated government-backed bishops to replace them.

Cardinal Zen confirmed this report, saying: “Yes, as far as I know, things happened just as they are related in AsiaNews.”

One of the underground bishops, Bishop Zhuang, asked Cardinal Zen to pass on his words to the Pope. The cardinal then travelled to Rome so he could personally hand a letter to Pope Francis. He was able to do this after the Weekly General Audience on January 10.

Later that day, he received a phone call saying Pope Francis would receive him in private audience on Friday, January 12. Cardinal Zen said that during that audience, he asked Pope Francis whether he had had time to “look into the matter”.

The Pope responded: “Yes, I told them not to create another Mindszenty case!”

[Fedora]

The Vatican is selling out the Church, period.

[RitaOK]

Heroic underground priests are crushed. Very sad. By the Church. Incredible. God saves them for what he wills.

[lastchance]

This is so distressing. The Pope has shown a lust for the holders of power. Both so he can lecture them and feel superior and to seek their approval. Contradictory I know but that is what I see. His mouthings about the vulnerable are to me more political theatre than a joyful witness to the love of Christ. We pretty much know who he will pick when the rubber hits the road.

[ebb tide]

However, under pressure from the Communist government, the Holy See told the Cardinal to leave the country and replaced him with a successor more to the government’s liking.

Both John XXIII and Paul VI folded like cheap suits before the Communists. John Paul II and Benedict XVI have offered some relief, but Bergoglio is going full speed to make up for lost ground.

[morphing libertarian]

Is the issue that the chinese government wants to appoint cardinals?

[ebb tide]

No, the issue is that the Francis is asking legitimate Catholic bishops to either resign or be demoted in order to make way for communist schismatic “bishops”, some of whom were excommunicated by Francis’ predecessors, to take charge of the poor faithful Catholics in Red China.

[morphing libertarian]

thanx

[Salvation]

Prayers for Cardinal Zen and the REAL Catholic Church in China — the underground one.