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Sunday 17 January 2016

Cardinal Zen calls out Francis, Parolin and the whole Vatican for the betrayal of the Catholic Church in China! "Would our diplomats advise Joseph to go and humbly beg for dialogue with Herod!?"

Communist appointed bishop in 2010
Last March 2015, I wrote about what I see as a sell-out by the Vatican of the faithful Catholics of China, the real Bishops and the great Martyrs against Communism. It is a reminder of the Ostpolitik of John XXIII and Paul VI which sold out the great Cardinals Mindzenty and Slipyj and millions of others behind the old Iron Curtain.


I have reposted the article one below this and a post from the great Cardinal Zen, Emeritus of Hong Kong. It is a wake-up call for these Romans who would cede to the atheistic communists the authority to suggest bishops with the Pope becoming no more than a rubber stamp. 

This papacy and the malefactors behind it must be called out for this betrayal of the Church in China and the tens of thousands of faithful who endure the persecution as well as the faithful bishops and priests who minister to them and are persecuted for the Faith.

They will pay dearly in eternity for this crime.



What will 2016 bring the Church in China
by Cardinal Joseph Zen Zi-kiun

I have not spoken about the Church in China on my blog for some time now. Certainly not because I am too busy to do so (busy as I may be, I will never lose interest of our Church in China), not because I fear criticism of my ideas (at my age I have nothing to gain or lose).

No, the problem is that I'd like to give some good news, but, as you will note, my fate is that of the prophet Jeremiah. I have searched at length for some good news, but have found none. I realise that during this season of Christmas and the New Year, my complaints are somewhat “extra chorum", but I cannot be a dog without a bark.

A.

I remember that at the beginning of last year the newspaper Wen Wei Po announced jubilantly that "relations between China and the Vatican will soon have a good development." Soon after, the Vatican Secretary of State said that "the prospects are promising, there is a desire for dialogue on both sides." I had my doubts about this unexpected wave of optimism, I saw no basis for this optimism. More than a thousand crosses were removed from the top of the churches (in some cases the churches themselves have been destroyed). After so long, we can no longer delude ourselves that this was anything beyond an episode of some local official’s exaggerated zeal. Several seminaries have been closed. Students of the National Seminary in Beijing were forced to sign a declaration of loyalty to the Independent Church, promising also to concelebrate with illegitimate bishops (otherwise they would not receive a diploma at the end of their studies). The Government is continuously strengthening a church that now objectively is already separated from the universal Catholic Church; with enticements and threats they induce the clergy to perform acts contrary to the doctrine and discipline of the Church, denying their conscience and their dignity.

B.

In the latter half of 2015, there were some promising events which however failed to live up to expectations. Bishop Wu Qin-jing of Zhouzhi, ten years after his episcopal ordination, was finally installed as bishop, but has yet to pay the price of a compromise (see my blog of 14 July 2015).

Shortly after, Bishop Zhang Yinlin Anyang was ordained. Even some usually cautious Catholic media rejoiced saying that everything had gone well. They pointed out that this ordination is the first after the last three years of contacts between Rome and Beijing, and also the first in Pope Francis’ pontificate, presenting the event as a good start.

It is this last statement that scares me, because the process included a "democratic election", the reading of a "decree of appointment by the (so-called) Episcopal Conference of China" and the canonically un-clear position of a consecrating bishop . A similarly abnormal process took place three years ago, does it deserve our rejoicing? (See my blog of 7 September 2015).

C.

In October comes the big news: A Vatican delegation was in Beijing, there was a meeting. The Holy See gave no news of it. Father Heyndrickx Jeroom broke the news (of course he knows everything). He says: "They did not discuss sensitive issues like Bishop Su Zhimin of Baoding still in detention, or such as Bishop Ma Daqin of Shanghai to house arrest for more than three years (but these problems should be resolved before any negotiations? Otherwise Obviously there is goodwill on the part of Beijing). They focused on the issue of appointing bishops (of which model? Like with Anyang?). After the meeting, the delegation paid a visit to Bishop Li Shan of Beijing and the National Seminary where they met with Ma Ying Lin (Father Heyndrickx said that these are signs of goodwill on the part of Beijing, I think instead that they were acts of homage imposed by Beijing)".

Later the Vatican Secretary of State also confirmed that there was a meeting and that it was "very positive" and this "would be part of a process that will hopefully end with an agreement." Pressed by some journalists as to whether there was real progress, Cardinal Parolin responded: "The fact that we speak is already positive." It seems that there is no agreement in sight as of yet.

D.

So what is the formula now under discussion for the appointment of bishops? As an old Cardinal out on the peripheries, I have no way of knowing, let alone guessing.

A recent article "A winter of darkness for religions in China" by Bernardo Cervellera on AsiaNews, says: "From information that has arrived from China it would seem that Beijing’s proposal is limited to complete recognition by the Holy See for all official bishops (even illegitimate and excommunicated bishops), without any mention of the unofficial bishops and those in prison; Vatican approval of the government recognized Council of Bishops, which excludes underground bishops; approval of the competency of this Council (and not the Pope) in the appointment of new candidates to the episcopacy who will be "democratically" elected (in short according to the suggestions of the Patriotic Association). The Holy See must approve the Council’s appointment and has a weak veto only in "severe" cases, which must be justified if used. If the Holy See’s justifications are considered "insufficient", the Council of Bishops may decide to proceed anyway".

If this information is accurate, can the Holy See accept the claims of the Chinese counterpart? Does this approach still respect the true authority of the Pope to appoint bishops? Can the Pope can sign such an agreement? (Pope Benedict said: "The authority of the Pope to appoint bishops is given to the church by its founder Jesus Christ, it is not the property of the Pope, neither can the Pope give it to others").

Do our officials in Rome know what an election is in China? Do they know that the so-called Episcopal Conference is not only illegitimate, but simply does not exist? What exists is an organism that is called "One Association and One Conference", namely the Patriotic Association and the Bishops' Conference always work together as one body, which is always chaired by government officials (there are pictures to prove it, the Government does not even try more to keep up appearances, it starkly flaunts the fact that they now manage religion!). Signing such an agreement means the authority to appoint bishops delivering into the hands of an atheist government.

This scheme is often compared to a (poorly defined) Model Vietnamese, but it is much worse. The Vietnamese model is based on an initiative that began with the Church in Vietnam, the true Catholic Church in Vietnam. In China on the other hand, the so-called Association and Conference hide the reality that it is the Government calling the shots.

Even in Eastern Europe of the past, such as in Poland and Czechoslovakia, it was the Church that took the initiative and then gave the Government veto power. In doing so, even if the government vetos a proposal for the hundredth time, it is still the Church that presents a candidate and makes the appointment. If the Government insists on a veto, it will only prolong the impasse, and it will still allow the Church time to look for a suitable candidate. But it is unthinkable to leave the initial proposal in the hands of an atheist Government who cannot possible judge the suitability of a candidate to be a bishop. Obviously, if the Church gives in to pressure from the government, the only result – despite proclamations to the contrary – is that it will have sold out the pontifical right to appoint bishops. Can this happen? According to an article written by a certain AndrĂ¡s Fejerdy: "For pastoral reasons - that is, because the full administration of the sacraments requires completely consecrated bishops - the Holy See believed that the completion of the Hungarian Bishops' Conference was so urgent that it accepted a solution that formally did not upset the canonical principle of free appointment, but that in practice gave the regime a decisive influence in choosing the candidates”.

UCAN News reports recent news from Chengdu (Sichuan): "Shortly after the visit of the Vatican delegation to Beijing, the Holy See approved the episcopal candidate elected in May 2014". Is this also a case of "not upsetting the canonical principle of free appointment, but …in practice giving the regime a decisive influence in choosing the candidates "?

E.

It is said that dialogue focused on the issue of the appointment of bishops, but there are many other pending problems, when and how will they be resolved?

The aforementioned AsiaNews article stated, again based on information received from China: "Beijing (demands) the Holy See’s recognition of all the official bishops, even the illegitimate and excommunicated ones." I wonder: is it only the government that makes these demands, without repentance of those concerned? Will the excommunicated only be released from excommunication or even recognized as bishops? Even without any act of repentance? Has the mercy of God come to this? Will the faithful be obliged to obey these bishops?

So much remains to be resolved.

Illegitimate bishops who have been excommunicated have abused the sacramental power (including ordination of deacons and priests) and judicial (assigning offices) and the Holy See seems to be without rebuke for them. 

Legitimate bishops who participated in illegitimate episcopal ordinations, one, two, even three, four times, without ever having asked for forgiveness, or having received forgiveness from the Holy Father. Also those who took part in the so-called Assembly of Representatives of Chinese Catholics (the clearest symbol of a schismatic church).

Shortly after the Vatican delegation’s journey to Beijing began, the government organized a large gathering of Church leaders, forcing on that occasion a celebration of all the bishops, legitimate, illegitimate and excommunicated. These are all objectively schismatic acts. The government now can string along a large number of bishops, resulting in an irrecoverable loss of dignity. If the Holy See signed some agreement with the Government without clarifying all these things, it will cause a severe wound to the conscience of the faithful.

F.

Obviously our underground communities are non-existent for the Government. But now is even the Vatican ignoring them in negotiations, to appease their Chinese counterparts? To "save the day" will we abandon our brothers and sisters? But they are the healthy limbs of the Church! (Of course, they too have their problems, especially when dioceses remain without bishops, which can only lead to disorder). Is silencing the underground community to please the government not a form of suicide?

In the recent negotiations there has been no mention of the case of Msgr. James Su Zhimin in prison for 20 years. Nor of Msgr. Thaddeus Ma Daqin of Shanghai under house arrest for more than three years because these issues have been deemed "too sensitive"!?

In early September, some of the Shanghai faithful who were in prison for a long time, along with their relatives, went on a pilgrimage to Rome to commemorate the sixtieth anniversary of the outbreak of the great persecution on September 8, 1955. The understanding was: "Do not make any noise, the past is past, we have to look forward"!?

On a diplomatic level, the underground communities are the ace in the Holy See’s deck; if we amputate these limbs, what have we left in diplomatic standings to induce the other party to agree to our terms? By now, the government controls nearly all the official communities, while the underground communities are kept at bay by the Holy See. What do they still need so come to terms? They only need the signature of the Holy Father, a blessing, for this "Chinese Church." Beijing has no intention of negotiating, only making demands. After such a signature they will oblige the faithful of the underground community to come out and surrender to those who were illegitimate bishops for a long time, maybe even excommunicated, but now, with a clean slate, without even showing any repentance, leaning only on the Government for their legitimacy, have become bishops in their own right.

G.

What makes me restless is the sight of our Eminent Secretary of State still intoxicated by the miracles of Ostpolitik. In a speech last year, at a Memorial for Card. Casaroli, he praised the success of its predecessor in having secured the existence of the Church hierarchy in the communist countries of Eastern Europe. He says: "In choosing candidates for the episcopate, we choose shepherds and not people who systematically oppose the regime, people who behave like gladiators, people who love to grandstand on the political stage." I wonder: Who had he in mind while making this description? I fear that he was thinking of a Cardinal Wyszynski, a Cardinal Mindszenty, a Cardinal Beran. But these are the heroes who bravely defended the faith of their people! It terrifies me to think this way and I sincerely hope that I am wrong.

On the day that an agreement is signed with China there will be peace and joy, but do not expect me to participate in the celebrations of the beginning of this new Church. I disappear, I will start a monastic life to pray and do penance. I will ask the forgiveness of Pope Benedict for not being able to do what he was hoping that I could I do. I will ask Pope Francis to forgive this old Cardinal from the peripheries for disturbing him with so many inappropriate letters.

The innocent children were killed, the angel told Joseph to take Mary and the Child and flee to safety. But today would our diplomats advise Joseph to go and humbly beg for dialogue with Herod!?

P.S.

Please let it not be said that I believe the only line is that of either or, of “official or unofficial”. The vast majority of the clergy and lay people who belong to the official community are faithful to the authority of the Holy Father. Many are suffering enormously because of the abnormal situation of their Church, they are saddened by the weakness or lack of rectitude of their pastors, sometimes they even try to prevent them from falling further. In many cases a united clergy and a faithful people can defend their pastor from further bullying from the Authorities.


© Asia News

6 comments:

Ana Milan said...

Bravo Cardinal Zen. You always stood up for your people and endured the resulting persecution alongside them. The CC has indeed betrayed China but also the whole of mankind when they deliberately set themselves against Christ and embraced Modernism at Vatican II. They have given civil governments, many of whom like your own have not been democratically elected and who hold their positions of power & greed by the controlling hand of Satan who is regulating populations by contraception, abortion, euthanasia and even contrived war between nations so they can sell both sides the arms & ammunitions they consequently need for self defence. Pope Francis's unceasing call for mercy without repentance ensures that this situation can never change, as it gives the green light to those who have no intention to acknowledge, confess & repent their sins through an ordained Catholic priest. That would be unthinkable and the CC has ceased to insist that it is the only way anyone can be saved.

Our Popes & Hierarchies since Vatican II have chosen the politically nice route enabling those they formerly turned away from ordination to the priesthood to be welcomed. This has led, as you know, to the present situation we have of sodomite priests, Bishops & Cardinals, the greater number of whom have not been formally chastised and many of whom still hold the high positions they were appointed to by former heretical popes. It was a scandal to Catholicism when pedophile enablers were invited to the Synod on the Family and the more Traditional Cardinals kept away and, in one particular case, demoted.

Our prayers are with you & your people as we constantly pray for a complete purging of our leadership and their successors utter condemnation of the heresy of Modernism. Catholics of all political & social backgrounds must join hands to insist that our Liturgy of Ages is returned, along with all Seven Sacraments, the belief in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ Our Saviour for our sins & His call to follow Him and the necessity to keep His Commandments. We have witnessed the destruction that has come about by not heeding God's Will and, as the End Times appear to be upon us, we must pray & act to bring about the message of Our Lady of Fatima that in the end Russia would be consecrated to Her Immaculate Heart & when all seemed to be lost She would then triumph.

God Bless you Cardinal Zen. You are a true Apostle of Christ ministering to His people as you were ordained to do. If only your fellow Cardinals/Bishops follow your example what a difference it would make to the entire world. God Bless & keep you.

Anonymous said...

Removing Crosses the Communists of the East have a lot in common with the Communists of the West .

Dorota said...

When I was a young mother, my little daughter came home crying, because a boy with whom she played in the sandbox, pushed her around and threw sand in her eyes.
At that time we were a struggling student folk, and an ocean was separating us from all our family. We had a nice safe courtyard in university campus, with a huge sandbox, where we believed our children were safe left to play without strict supervision.

I "believed in love" and bought extra candy for to the boy (by the way, he just arrived from China), to encourage him to dialogue in the sandbox. My sweet little 3 year old carried gifts for him every time she went out to play, because her mummy reassured her that he was nice and good, and simply needed some love and understanding.

Was I ever stupid!
At first shocked, the boy accepted the gifts, then he expected them, and in no time he began to push the nice little friend around again.

I remember her shock, blinded and screaming, sand in her eyes and mouth, all betrayed by he mother, the mother whom she trusted to protect her.

To change someone heart, to have a dialogue leading to peace, more than candy is required. We must not ignore doctrinal differences and crimes against humanity. We must in think in terms of statistics and slogans, but look at each single victim individually.

Alappat Shaji said...

At the end My Immaculate Heart will Triumph. What our Holy Mother is said in Fatima is going to fulfill now. Times are up and signs are showing right that the end time has come to our doors. Do what our Holy Mother (be in the Immaculate Heart of Holy Mother)said at Fatima to three Shepard children. The relevance is right now. So pray and pray and pray rosary without fail.....to overcome the tribulation period.
In JMJ
God Bless You.

Robespierre said...

Alappat,
Indeed.

Anonymous said...

Christ is Born!

This is nothing new for Ukrainian Greek Catholics. True story: When +Cardinal Slipyj found out that his release from the Gulag was one of the results of the Vatican-Moscow agreement, he wanted to go back to the Gulag.

He was a thorn in the side of Pope Paul VI because he continually talked about the underground Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church. He passed away Sept. 7, 1984, the vigil of the Nativity of Our Lady.

May Our Lady, Queem of Martyrs, +Joseph Cardinal Slipyj, +Cardinal Mindszenty and all the Holy Martyrs pray to God that Cardinal Zen and the entire underground Catholic Church in China remain faithful God, the Catholic Faith and the Holy See.

Most Holy Mother of God, save us!