Hong Kong firebrand taking on Beijing
CARDINAL ZEN
HONG KONG — Hong Kong Cardinal Joseph Zen has earned a reputation as a fighter -and the octogenarian's latest battle pits him against Vatican officials and Beijing over a deal he believes would devastate the Catholic Church.
The former Bishop of Hong Kong is well-known in the city for his vocal opposition to political suppression and his support for democratic reform.
But 86-year-old Zen's latest cause goes to the heart of his beliefs about the Catholic Church and what it should represent.
It comes as the Vatican moves closer to a historic agreement with China over the major stumbling block of who ordains bishops -- a deal Zen fears would backfire against the underground Catholic Church in the mainland which is routinely persecuted by Chinese authorities.
"For several decades the government has made it hard for them but they remained loyal to Rome and the pope. And now they're asked to surrender?" Zen said in an interview with AFP.
"Some people in China might revolt."
China's roughly 12 million Catholics are divided between a staterun association whose clergy are chosen by the government and an unofficial church which swears allegiance to the pope.
The Chinese Communist Party is officially atheist and religious groups are tightly controlled by the state. Catholic and Protestant churches have been demolished in recent years and Christian clergy detained, as traditional Western congregations shrink.
Beijing and the Vatican severed diplomatic relations in 1951 and although ties have improved as China's Catholic population grows, they have remained at odds over the designation of bishops.
But a Vatican source told AFP last month that in a framework agreement still under negotiation with China seven state-appointed bishops would be recognised, although no time frame was specified.
Zen has accused Vatican officials of "selling out" to China and was chastised by Vatican spokesman Greg Burke for "fostering confusion and controversy" with his remarks.
Burke also denied Zen's allegation that the pope was not informed of actions he would not agree with.