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A Roman Catholic cardinal of 90 years was taken into custody earlier this year. The Chinese Communist Party(CCP), for allegedly conspiring to foreign forces in failing to register with the government his pro-democracy charitable fund, starts his formal trial Monday at Hong Kong.
Cardinal Joseph Zen, the former archbishop in Hong Kong was unceremoniously detained With four other pro-democracy supportersIn May, for allegedly conspiring with foreign forces against a CCP-imposed law on national security, Crux.
The five were specifically charged with the failure to register a no longer-existent relief fund that was used to bail out protesters, and to pay the legal fees of Hong Kongers who protested in 2019 against a controversial bill which would allow extradition to China.
In addition to Zen, others on trial include Barrister Margaret Ng, singer-activist Denise Ho, scholar Hui Po-keung, former legislator Cyd Ho and activist Sze Ching-wee, who served as the fund’s secretary general before it shut down last October. All five of the defendants pleaded guilty. Zen is currently out on bail depuis May 11.
ARRESTED CARDINAL WARNED HOLY SEA OF CHINESE PERSECUTION CONDEMNED VATICAN’S SECRETARY of STATE
Joseph Zen, the cardinal of Roman Catholic Church arrives at St. Andrew’s Parish, Hong Kong, Friday, June 4, 2021, for a service.
(Chan Long Hei/Bloomberg via Getty Images
“I want to emphasize that Hong Kong is a society“With rule of law where no individual or organization is above law and all offenses shall acquitted in accordance to law,” Zhao Lijian, spokesperson from the Chinese Foreign Ministry stated at the time. “We strongly oppose any act that undermines the rule of Hong Kong law and interferes in its affairs.”
Frank Wolf, a former U.S. Congressman from Virginia, currently serves on U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom. An op-ed written for Fox News DigitalIn which he called Zen’s charges “spurious” and stated that he was “deeply concerned about Zen’s safety and well-being.”
CARDINAL ZEN ARRESTED BY CHINESE COMUNIST PPARTY IN HONG KONG COURT
Wolf wrote that the Chinese government had broken its promises and was eviscerating Hong Kong’s rule of law, civil liberties and rule of law.Religious freedomIt will be a loss of fundamental rights. We are actually witnessing this city becoming more oppressive, with no one safe from government tyranny, even religious leaders, and communities.
Wolf said that Cardinal Zen was not only an activist for democracy in Hong Kong but also a tireless advocate for religious freedom in China. “He is a hero, role model for many.”
From left to right: Cardinals John Tong Hon and Cardinal Joseph Zen, Bishop Stephen Chow and Bishop Joseph Ha. Paul Gao poses for photos at the Episcopal Ordination of the most Reverend Stephen Chow, Hong Kong’s Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, Dec. 4, 2021.
(BERTHA WAN/AFP via Getty Images
Fox News Digital requested comment, but USCIRF didn’t immediately respond.
Zen is repeated Warnings to VaticanThe CCP’s crackdowns on religious minorities, public figures, and those who oppose the government have been met with little response. This led the cardinal Pietro Parolin to accuse the Vatican Secretary of state Pietro Parolin of keeping church leaders in the dark about these issues.
Zen also attacked Pope Francis, whose South American roots he blamed for the Holy See’s relaxed diplomacy toward China. Zen claimed that the pope doesn’t know “communists in authority”.
ARRESTED CARDINAL WARNED HOLY SEA OF CHINESE PERSECUTION CONDEMNED VATICAN’S SECRETARY of STATE
Zen stated that Zen in 2020, “I try explaining, remembering Pope Francis comes from South America. Where the communists were the good guys protecting the poor from oppression of military régimes in collusion avec the rich, so they may have sympathy for them.” “He doesn’t have direct experience of communists in power, oppressors of peoples.”
Pope Francis meets bishops, priests and deacons in Nur-Sultan Cathedral, Kazakhstan on September 15, 2022.
(REUTERS/Pavel Mikheyev)
Chinese President Xi Jinping reportedly Turned down an offerAccording to Reuters, Pope Francis was in Kazakhstan last week at the same moment that Pope Francis was meeting with him.
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Fox News’ Timothy H.J. Nerrozzi contributed to the report.
