The Sino-Bullies are at it again.
From the Catholic News Agency:
Cardinal Joseph Zen and five others stood trial in Hong Kong on Monday for failing to properly register a fund to provide legal aid to pro-democracy protesters.
The 90-year-old cardinal and retired bishop of Hong Kong arrived at the court in West Kowloon on Sept. 26 using a cane to walk. He was arrested in May along with other democracy activists under Hong Kong’s strict national security law.
In addition to Zen, who has been free on bail since early May, several others have been charged for failing to apply for local society registration for the 612 Humanitarian Relief Fund between 2019 and 2021.
True, the Cardinal is free on bail and even if officials order a guilty verdict, he will not have to serve time, but these actions against him are nothing more than bullying harassment by the Chinese government of an old man trying to save the last shreds of democracy in a land that once enjoyed full freedoms.
Meanwhile, Pope Francis, the Biden in the Vatican, seems far more concerned with getting a renewal of an agreement with the Chinese government concerning the appointment of bishops or somesuch, an agreement that will prove as binding as the one the British signed with the Chinese government guaranteeing the preservation of democracy in Hong Kong 25 years ago.
Probably the real reason the Pope’s lack of concern for his cardinal in Hong Kong is personal.
Zen has been one of the most outspoken critics of the Vatican’s agreement with China since it was first signed in 2018, calling it,’an incredible betrayal.’
Weak men don’t like strong men who disagree with them. So far the only Vatican response was issued after Cardinal Zen’s arrest, nothing since. To the pontiff’s credit however it contains a blistering threat.
The Holy See has learned with concern the news of the arrest of Cardinal Zen and is following the development of the situation with extreme attention.’
Boy, that’ll scare ’em.
h/t GWR.
The Taos Tatler 