Hong Kong, China, Feb 9, 2018 / 14:13 pm
Cardinal Joseph Zen again had harsh words for the Vatican on Friday, saying that the proposed deal between the Vatican and the Chinese government-controlled Chinese Patriotic Catholic Association was not in the best interests of Chinese Catholics.
The Catholic Church in China is divided into the illegal "underground" Church, which remains faithful and in communion with Rome, and the Chinese Patriotic Catholic Association, whose bishops are appointed by the government. Members of the underground church are often persecuted by the Chinese government.
The agreement would reportedly legitimize the bishops of the Catholic Patriotic Association, and would force the underground church's bishops into retirement. Cardinal Zen has been outspoken in recent weeks against the Vatican's deal with the Chinese church.
Zen is the emeritus Archbishop of Hong Kong.