The Archbishop Emeritus of Hong Kong, Cardinal Joseph Zen, is facing charges of colluding with foreign forces. The 90-year-old cardinal was arrested Wednesday by Hong Kong’s national security police.
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Hong Kong Police Detain and Release 90-year-old Cardinal Zen
By Catholic News Service
HONG KONG (CNS) — Hong Kong’s national security police released Cardinal Joseph Zen Ze-kiun, retired archbishop of Hong Kong, May 11 after detaining him for allegedly colluding with foreign forces.
He was detained along with along with former opposition lawmaker Margaret Ng Ngoi-yee and singer Denise Ho Wan-sze.
[Related: Chinese Catholics Welcome Cardinal Zen]
The independent Hong Kong Free Press tweeted a photo of a masked Cardinal Zen and said: “Cardinal Joseph Zen was released on bail from Chai Wan Police Station at around 11 p.m. on Wednesday. He did not speak. He then entered a private car parked outside the police station. The 90-year-old was accompanied by five people when he left the police station.”
Ned Price, U.S. Department of State Spokesperson said he “condemned” the arrest of Cardinal Zen, Margaret Ng, Hui Po-keung and Denise Ho during a May 11 press briefing.
“Hong Kong authorities have again demonstrated that they will pursue all means necessary to stifle dissent and undercut protected rights and freedoms,” Price said. “We call for the immediate release of all of those who remain in custody and of course we continue to stand with the people of Hong Kong.”
The cardinal, Ng and Ho were among five trustees of the 612 Humanitarian Relief Fund, which was set up to offer financial assistance to those involved in anti-government protests in 2019 and which came under scrutiny of authorities over the past year.
A fourth trustee, former adjunct associate professor Hui Po Keung, was arrested by national security police May 10 as he was about to catch a flight to Germany, a source said. The South China Morning Post reported May 11 that Hui had been put on the list of people who would be stopped by law enforcers if they tried to leave the city via the airport or other control points.
Hong Kong Free Press also reported the release of Ng and Po.
Under Hong Kong’s 2020 security law, people arrested for colluding with foreign forces could be sent to China for trial if arrested and charged. The law made participating in or supporting the pro-democracy movement crimes of subversion and collusion with foreign organizations and allowed for those remanded to be extradited to mainland China. Punishment ranges between a minimum of three years and a maximum of life imprisonment.
At the Vatican, Matteo Bruni, director of the Vatican press office, said May 11, “The Holy See has learned with concern the news of Cardinal Zen’s arrest and is following the development of the situation with extreme attention.”
Cardinal Zen has publicly delivered detailed critiques of Beijing. He has been close to other high-profile dissidents and has gone as far as sleeping on the streets with students protesters.
Beijing’s ire has also been raised by the cardinal’s ongoing critique of the Vatican’s controversial 2018 deal with China regarding the appointment of bishops, an attempt to end a fractious relationship that stretched back to the time of dictator Mao Zedong. Cardinal Zen said he was concerned the deal would “kill” the unofficial or underground church in China, whose leaders refuse to register with the state-run Chinese Catholic Patriotic Association.
The cardinal’s detention came months after a series of articles in state-run media attacking his activism. It also comes amid rising fears that Beijing would begin instituting closer control over the church in Hong Kong, in line with its central management of the church on the mainland.
Beijing has a history of arresting and jailing priests and bishops, with a number still unaccounted for in recent decades.
Shortly after the new security law was implemented, Cardinal Zen said that while he would remain prudent, he was prepared to suffer arrest and trials under the new law.
“If right and proper words were considered against their law, I will endure all the suing, trials and arrests. Numerous predecessors have endured similarly,” he said in a video posted on his Facebook page.
At the Vatican, Matteo Bruni, director of the Vatican press office, said May 11, “The Holy See has learned with concern the news of Cardinal Zen’s arrest and is following the development of the situation with extreme attention.”
Inside the Vatican-China Agreement: Explaining the Diplomatic Relations Between the Two States
This story originally aired in October 2020
Currents News Staff
The Holy See and China renewed for another two years, and experimentally, their agreement on the procedure for naming new bishops.
Long before becoming Secretary of State, Cardinal Pietro Parolin was in Beijing twice. He can be considered a key contributor to this agreement.
“I’ve compared this agreement with a seed,” said Cardinal Parolin, “a seed sown on challenging land, where the Church still faces many difficulties. However, we hope that it will slowly produce fruit, with a lot of patience and without expecting to see sudden changes. I don’t think there will be immediate changes, but that’s the way the Holy See does politics. It’s a politics of small steps.”
The content of the agreement has not been made public, and in two years, it has only allowed for the appointment of two new Chinese bishops in communion with Rome, despite the fact that there are 50 vacant dioceses in China.
This agreement represents yet another important step, as the Vatican and China have not had diplomatic relations since Mao rose to power in 1950 and began repressing all religions.
In a press release, the Vatican praised Beijing’s decision to renew the agreement and expressed a desire to “pursue an open and constructive dialogue for the benefit of the life of the Catholic Church and the good of Chinese people.”
“We’re going to start working together, with the Chinese people, on this matter,” said Cardinal Parolin. “I really hope progress and more improvements develop each day.”
In the middle of negotiations, Washington had pressured the Vatican to not renew the agreement, to which the Holy See responded that it wasn’t a political agreement but one of “ecclesiastical and pastoral value.
The Effect Cardinal Zen’s Arrest Will Have on China’s Underground Church
Currents News Staff
The 90-year-old cardinal of Hong Kong is facing charges of colluding with foreign forces and was arrested Wednesday by national security police.
With an estimated 300 million “underground Christians” and as many as 100 million “underground Catholics” living in China, Ed Clancy from Aid to the Church in Need joined Currents News to discuss the rippling effects of this arrest.
Catholic News Headlines for Tuesday, 05/10/22
Republicans are saying a nationwide ban on abortion is possible as democrats scramble to codify Roe v. Wade.
New York Governor Kathy Hochul is pledging an additional thirty-five million dollars in abortion funding.
President Biden unveils new plans to battle skyrocketing prices and supply chain issues.
Ukrainian Refugees Receive Warm Welcome as Irish Castle Opens Doors From Those Fleeing War
Currents News Staff
This 15th century castle on Ireland’s West Coast is about as far from Ukraine as you can get in Europe. But for a group of Ukrainian families fleeing the war, it’s now home.
Maria Nazarchuk fled from Ukraine with her family.
“It’s very amazing living in the castle,” Maria said. “I’m never dream about what I can live in a castle in the future. But I live, it is my two boys with my family.”
The owner Barry Haughian didn’t have to think long about traveling to Poland to offer up his castle to refugees.
“We decided that we had to do something and with no real plan and we were very nervous and thinking, okay, how do we do this?” Barry said. “And it’s pretty simple. You get your credit card out, you book a flight and you fly to Poland.”
Per capita, the country of five million people has taken in more Ukrainian refugees than many of its neighbors in western Europe. The government says more than 27,000 have arrived so far.
Meanwhile, Ireland’s closest neighbor, the United Kingdom has had roughly the same number of refugees arrive, despite having a population more than 13 times the size.
But not all refugees in Ireland have received the royal treatment. The government has warned that resources are stretched.
“Look, it’s not all ideal,” said Roderic O’Gorman the Irish Minister of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth. “It’s not all the kind of the gold standard accommodation that we’d like. But you know, this is a crisis situation. Most people are in hotels, some people are in more basic accommodation. And yes, it is getting more difficult, particularly as it’s clear now that this war isn’t going to end anytime soon.”
Authorities have set up emergency camp beds in an arena in Cork. They also plan to repurpose student halls, holiday homes and former convents. Former asylum seeker Lucky Khambule, originally from South Africa ,shared a room in a government run facility for years living in limbo until his papers were processed.
He now campaigns for better conditions for all asylum seekers.
“It shows that all along,” Lucky said, “we were right to say that the government is capable of treating us better.”
Unlike other asylum seekers, Ukrainian refugees were immediately granted the right to work and receive welfare payments in Ireland. A lack of red tape also enabled thousands of Ukrainian children to be enrolled quickly in Irish schools.
“They had everything sorted for these guys inside two hours,” Barry said. “It was really the way I’ve described…It was quite incredible. It makes you really proud to be Irish.”
GOP Lawmakers Say Nationwide Ban on Abortion Is ‘Possible’ as Law Goes to the Senate Floor Wednesday
Currents News Staff
Night after night, protesters outside the homes of Conservative Supreme Court Justices are voicing support for abortion.
“Keep abortion…..safe and legal,” protesters say.
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell raised eyebrows in a recent interview saying a nationwide ban on abortions is theoretically possible. Although other members of his party poured cold water on that talk, it still provoked strong reactions.
“Hear that America?” asked Sen. Chuck Schumer. “Total ban on abortion stated by not any Republican, but by the Republican leader.”
Majority leader Chuck Schumer is set to bring a bill that codifies Roe as law to the senate floor wednesday, but it’s likely to fail for a second time, due to GOP opposition.
As Republican and Democratic lawmakers go back and forth on the issue, violence has erupted. Authorities are still investigating an alleged arson incident sunday at the offices of a Wisconsin pro-life group.
“There is no room for hate or violence in Madison,” said Police Chief Shon Barnes. “In fact there is no room for hate or violence anywhere in our country.”
Meanwhile, lawmakers in Albany are pushing a bill that would establish a state fund to pay for abortions. Taxpayer dollars would cover the procedure not only for New Yorkers, but also for out-of-state women and undocumented migrants. The price on that: $50 million per year to meet demand if Roe v Wade is struck down.
Baby Formula Remains in Short Supply as Inflation and Product Recalls are Being Blamed
Currents News Staff
Baby formula is getting harder and harder to find. Analysts say supply chain challenges, inflation and product recalls are all preventing formula from hitting store shelves. The FDA is paying close attention as it works with manufacturers to safely ramp up production.
“We’re very concerned about it and understand,” said Dr. Robert Califf, FDA Commissioner, “understand that it should be a concern that, moms and dads and grandparents, like me, we want this to get fixed.”
New data from “Datasembly” shows 40-percent of baby formula brands are out-of-stock. That’s a dramatic rise from the first half of 2021 when the rate was between 2 and 8-percent. The new data also shows these six states – Iowa, South Dakota, North Dakota, Missouri, Texas and Tennessee – that more than half of baby formula was completely sold out during the last week of April.
The situation has parents feeling helpless.
“There’s no answer,” said Samantha Cory, a mom to twins. “What are we supposed to do if we can’t find the formula?”
The supply is so low that CVS, Walgreens and Target are limiting purchases. Parents say those limited are making things even harder.
“So what am I doing?” asked Samantha. “I’m starting to hoard. I’m starting to scour, we’re going further out. I’m going to areas where I know that there’s a low population. What am I doing? You know, it’s unreal.”
Experts urge parents to be flexible and speak to their pediatricians about options, especially if they have kids with severe allergies that require special formulas.
“We want to make sure that families do not get desperate,” said Dr. Steven Abrams, the former chair on the AAP Committee on Nutrition, “and do things like start making formulas at home or buying formulas that are not properly vetted by the FDA.”
Artifacts of the First Brick Catholic Church in America Hold the Stories of the Saints
Currents News Staff
In 1665, the first brick Catholic church in the country was built in St. Mary’s City, Maryland.
It was destroyed and forgotten about. But in the 20th century, archeologists discovered remnants of it.
To this day, they’re still uncovering artifacts important to the Catholic church at that site.
Henry Miller is one of those archeologists who’s been working on excavations at the historic site since 1988 and he joins Currents News to discuss what they’ve found.
New York’s Attorney General Proposes Legislation that Would Turn New York into an Abortion Hub
Currents News Staff
New York Attorney General Letitia James unveiled a bill to expand and protect access to abortions in the state.
James is helping to spearhead a piece of legislation called The Reproductive Freedom and Equity Program.
Under the proposal, 50-million dollars in state funds will be funneled to abortion providers across New York.
“We are taking action to make sure that it remains true here in New York, both for people here in New York and in states poised to ban abortions,” said James.
Kristen E. Curran, Director of Government Relations for the New York State Catholic Conference released a statement on the proposal, saying in part: “Now some officials want to make abortion a tourism industry, like Broadway or Niagara Falls, for out-of-state residents.”
The statement continued, “This is appalling. We believe the state should focus on its own residents and making New York a more welcoming culture for women in crisis pregnancies who would choose to keep their babies if only they had the supports and resources they deserve.”