The Church finally protested the arrest of Hong Kong Cardinal Emeritus Joseph Zen, who, at age 90, was confined to that city along with five other personalities.

But it is not the Church of Romethe Universal, but the one from Germany which openly accused the Beijing government of being responsible for the conduct increasingly oppressive policy towards Catholics, despite the agreement signed in 2018 with the Vatican to normalize the appointment of bishops.

Everyone expects Pope Francis kausapin following Cardinal Zen’s imprisonment for several hours, more incredible at age 90 of the accused of collusion with foreign forces.

As Archbishop of Hong Kong, Zen criticized the regime several times of Beijing and opposed the agreement between the Holy See and China to normalize relations.

The open criticisms of Joseph Zen they humiliated the Pope’s approach na “he has no time to accept it” in the Vatican when the cardinal passed four days waiting and he was only able to send a letter addressed to Francisco before returning to Hong Kong.

It is obvious that the brutality of Beijing’s act is a warning to the Pope of Rome. Jorge Bergoglio’s only response was, when celebrating the Day of Prayer for China in Rome on Tuesday the 24th, to say that “I follow with attention and participation” the lives of Chinese Catholics which is “often complicated”.

On the same day, Cardinal Zen and the five who accompanied him to the arrest two weeks ago, appeared before Hong Kong justice, which has a special regime with respect to the rest of China. A regimen already applies daily lessespecially since the new president is the former police chief, fully in Beijing’s service.

The magistrates did not repeat to Cardinal Zen and others the accusation of “collusion with foreign forces,” a heinous crime. They just framed him “not registered correctly” a humanitarian fund of which the Hong Kong emeritus and others are administrators.

The fund, which closed in October last year, when the Chinese communist regime forcibly suppressed protests in the former British colony, served to assist the persecuted and political prisoners. Authorities said they knew who the donors were.

doCardinal Zen needs to be arrested for an alleged administrative offense, providing only a maximum penalty of a $ 1,750 fine?

Also on Tuesday the 24th, Cardinal Zen again appeared to the public celebrating a mass similar to the one led by the Pope at the Vatican for the Day of Prayer for China.

In the early days, the Vatican limited itself to implying that it was following “with concern” events in Hong Kong following the arrest of Cardinal Zen.

The protest of the German Church

the rest is silence. At least a brief statement from the Pope is expected. Apparently, the fragmented church in Germany, whose synodal path includes changes to harsh aspects for the church such as recognizing homosexuality and blessing gay and trans couples, is eliminating celibacy for priests and access to women in the priesthood, decided to give a voice in protest.

The German decision resonated with the rest of the Church and embarrassing to the quiet Pope.

The Bishop of Bonn, Bertram Meier, who heads the commission of the German Episcopal Conference for the World Church, recalled: “In 2020 that, despite the agreement signed two years before the Vatican, was the reason for the fight against the coronavirus. Covid 19 pandemic was used as an excuse to make it harder to proclaim the Gospel due to Internet restrictions.

The bishop of the former German capital recalled that “this year the attempt to suppress religions in China has clearly risen again.”

The German Catholic news agency KNA reported the introduction of stricter policies against religious activities in China. “On March 1, a provision implemented that further reducing Internet spaces. In the future, it will be almost impossible to provide religious information and communication online and through social networks ”.

The Catholic agency stressed that the number of operators dealing with religious arguments has been “drastically” declining and many blogs have been blacked out.

It should be noted that the attack not limited to CatholicsIt covers other religions. This anti-democratic decision is in line with the decision of one of the last congresses of the Communist Party of China, which charged its top bodies with dealing with the rise. control over religious activities.

Bishop Meier stressed that “youth and children are no longer allowed to have easy access to religious educational institutions. As a result, religious education in China has become virtually impossible. ”

In addition, the German bishop said, in particular the Catholic regions of China, “they are becoming more and more frequent.” shame against bishops, priests or nuns which does not follow the Patriotic Association, the official entity imposed by the State on the Catholic organization.

The Church in Germany has a long tradition of helping Chinese Catholics, so it decided to intervene because “it is in this frightening context that the arrest of Cardinal Joseph Zen of Hong Kong.

“The communist party is trying to control all church officials to better monitor the sector. There were also house arrests, ”the KNA agency said.

Vatican correspondent

ap