Cardinal Zen… Vatican Is Badly Mishandling China Situation

The Wanderer ^ | 11/9/18

[marshmallow]

HONG KONG (CNA) — The recent agreement between the Vatican and China is a step toward the “annihilation” of the Catholic Church in China, Joseph Cardinal Zen, former bishop of Hong Kong, wrote in a New York Times op-ed published on Wednesday, October 24.

Zen, who has been openly critical of Vatican’s approach toward China in the past, did not hold back in his assessment of Pope Francis’ new deal and in offering his views on communist governments.

A September 22 agreement between the Holy See and Beijing was intended to normalize the situation of China’s Catholics. The Church in China has been split between the “underground” Church, in full communion with Rome, and the state-run Chinese Patriotic Catholic Association (CPCA), which was not.

The Chinese government appointed bishops of the CPCA. The September agreement was designed to unify those groups, by approving a formula through which Pope Francis would approve bishops nominated by Beijing. But Zen’s op-ed said the distinction between the underground Church and the CPCA has not been eradicated. He said those who attend the “underground” Church worship in secret and are subject to persecution from the government if they are discovered. Amid a religious crackdown in China, Zen said that priests of the underground Church have been encouraging their parishioners to skip Mass for their own safety.

While Pope Francis is “very pastoral,” Zen said does not think that he properly understands how Communist China works. In Pope Francis’ home country of Argentina, the Communists worked to defend the poor against government oppression, often alongside Jesuits, he said. This could be why the Pope “may have a natural sympathy for Communists,” as he views them to be persecuted. It is far different, said Zen, in places where Communists are the ruling party as in China. When............

[maxwellsmart_agent]

The Vatican is doing a worse job handling the child abuse situation.

[Da Coyote]

‘Twould be much harder to name one thing the Vatican is doing right under Pope Che.

[outofsalt]

Given the inclinations of this Pope, you might start calling it, The Holy Ramen Church

[Blue House Sue]

Cardinal Zen?

That’s the best name of a Cardinal since Cardinal Sin.

[elbook]

leftist pope

destroying thec church has ALWAYS been a communist goal

[ebb tide]

Ping

[Huaynero]

Once read a quote regards amending the U.S. Constitution; “it’s not an amendment to the Constitution but rather the Constitution that’s being amended”. In other words, give better than serious thought to the action being considered.
The current rapprochement of sorts between the Vatican and Communist China defies my simple belief that Communism and any religion are antithetical from any git-go. Especially so with Catholicism as history voluminously continues to record.
Reasonable explanation or argument totally escapes me thus I can only crudely ask of whoever turned the lights off in the Vatican; “have you totally lost your F’n mind?”