austraLasia 1550
Cardinal Zen's tough days deserve our support
HONG KONG: 4th May 2006 -- A non-Salesian source close to Cardinal Zen has indicated that the Cardinal has found this past week personally tough going, in the light of the ordination of two illegal Bishops in China, one for the diocese of Kumming, south west China, on April 30, and the other for the diocese of Anhui, some 1,000 kms south of Beijing, on 3rd May. As Cardinal, as Salesian and as Chinese, Cardinal Zen shows a great love for his Church and his people. With another 20 episcopal ordinations in the pipeline for China, the man who has the nerve to stand up to the Patriotic Association is fighting a lonely battle, since there are not too many others who can carry that role. austraLasia, inasmuch as it tries to be a unifying voice in the East Asia-Oceania Region, takes this opportunity to express its support for the Cardinal's efforts.
One can read the details, the lead up and even possible future scenarios for the newly ordained bishops from a variety of sources. Less focus has been given to Cardinal Zen, except the international press's reporting of snubs and rejection of the Cardinal's explicit requests to the Patriotic Association to "suspend the episcopal ordination....because it has not received approval from the Holy See" (from the quoted reports of his fax to the PA before Father Ma Ling's ordination on 30th April).
The South China Morning Post has reported the subsequent reactions of the Cardinal to the ordinations. He has been so keen to see continued dialogue between the Vatican and the Government, but this time he has said quite explicitly that talks "cannot continue because people will think [the Vatican is] prepared to surrender. We cannot budge. When you brutally place such a fait accompli, how can you call this dialogue?"
It is important to note here the distinction between the Government and the Patriotic Association. The PA is not interested in relationships between Beijing and the Holy See; the Government may well be, and that is the difference. Another commentator, a P.I.M.E priest who has worked in China, believes that the Government is at times embarrassed by the "Stalinist and asphyxiating mentality" of the PA. It is as if a monster has been created which even they cannot control. The lay vice chairman of the PA, a Mr Liu Bainian, recently told Hong Kong Broadcaster RTHK that "we believe the Pope will not disagree. We have not considered whether this ordainment [sic] will bring negative consequences on sino-vatican relations". The Cardinal's opinion? "I doubt it comes from the top of the leadership" - he is referring to the leadership of the Chinese Government.
It can often be lonely at the top of any form of government, and although he knows he has the support of the Pope and the Church generally, it is also good that we Salesians, who have been so proud to acknowledge Joseph Zen's appointment as Cardinal, likewise line up to express our solidarity with this man 'at the top'.
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AustraLasia is an email service for the Salesian Family of Asia Pacific. It also functions as an agency for ANS based in Rome. For queries please contact admin@bosconet.aust.com Try out BoscoWiki to be interactive. For RSS feeds, subscribe to www.bosconet.aust.com/RSS/rssala.xml
Cardinal Zen's tough days deserve our support
HONG KONG: 4th May 2006 -- A non-Salesian source close to Cardinal Zen has indicated that the Cardinal has found this past week personally tough going, in the light of the ordination of two illegal Bishops in China, one for the diocese of Kumming, south west China, on April 30, and the other for the diocese of Anhui, some 1,000 kms south of Beijing, on 3rd May. As Cardinal, as Salesian and as Chinese, Cardinal Zen shows a great love for his Church and his people. With another 20 episcopal ordinations in the pipeline for China, the man who has the nerve to stand up to the Patriotic Association is fighting a lonely battle, since there are not too many others who can carry that role. austraLasia, inasmuch as it tries to be a unifying voice in the East Asia-Oceania Region, takes this opportunity to express its support for the Cardinal's efforts.
One can read the details, the lead up and even possible future scenarios for the newly ordained bishops from a variety of sources. Less focus has been given to Cardinal Zen, except the international press's reporting of snubs and rejection of the Cardinal's explicit requests to the Patriotic Association to "suspend the episcopal ordination....because it has not received approval from the Holy See" (from the quoted reports of his fax to the PA before Father Ma Ling's ordination on 30th April).
The South China Morning Post has reported the subsequent reactions of the Cardinal to the ordinations. He has been so keen to see continued dialogue between the Vatican and the Government, but this time he has said quite explicitly that talks "cannot continue because people will think [the Vatican is] prepared to surrender. We cannot budge. When you brutally place such a fait accompli, how can you call this dialogue?"
It is important to note here the distinction between the Government and the Patriotic Association. The PA is not interested in relationships between Beijing and the Holy See; the Government may well be, and that is the difference. Another commentator, a P.I.M.E priest who has worked in China, believes that the Government is at times embarrassed by the "Stalinist and asphyxiating mentality" of the PA. It is as if a monster has been created which even they cannot control. The lay vice chairman of the PA, a Mr Liu Bainian, recently told Hong Kong Broadcaster RTHK that "we believe the Pope will not disagree. We have not considered whether this ordainment [sic] will bring negative consequences on sino-vatican relations". The Cardinal's opinion? "I doubt it comes from the top of the leadership" - he is referring to the leadership of the Chinese Government.
It can often be lonely at the top of any form of government, and although he knows he has the support of the Pope and the Church generally, it is also good that we Salesians, who have been so proud to acknowledge Joseph Zen's appointment as Cardinal, likewise line up to express our solidarity with this man 'at the top'.
__________________________________
AustraLasia is an email service for the Salesian Family of Asia Pacific. It also functions as an agency for ANS based in Rome. For queries please contact admin@bosconet.aust.com Try out BoscoWiki to be interactive. For RSS feeds, subscribe to www.bosconet.aust.com/RSS/rssala.xml
