Zen's comments were made during Mass in his homily, where he recalled Fr. Wei Heping (Yu Heping), who died two years ago in mysterious and suspicious circumstances.

He asked God to save the Holy See "from the brink of the precipice and not sell out the faithful Church [to the Chinese government]". Read more

He, made the comment on Tuesday following an announcement by the current bishop, John Tong Hon, that the Vatican and the Chinese government are in dialogue over the appointment of bishops.

According to the South China Morning Post, an initial accord has provided for the pope to choose bishops from a list of candidates approved by Chinese bishops and state authorities.

The move would be a step forward in China-Vatican relations, where the issue has been a flashpoint for many years.

Tong said: "The Apostolic See has the right to choose from the recommended list the candidates it considers as most suitable and the right to reject the candidates recommended by a bishops' conference of China and the bishops in the provinces under it."

However, Zen told Apple Daily: "To officially let [the Chinese government] manage the church? That would mean surrender."

He added: "Once the relationship has been established, what then? When the pope visits China, and the [central government] selects only the obedient people to meet the pope, what then for those belonging to the underground churches?"

The 'underground churches' have been formed by Chinese Catholics in an act of resistance to the state-approved Chinese Catholic Patriotic Association.

According to the Catholic church, there are currently 110 bishops in China. Up to 30 of them still operate in underground churches which pledge allegiance only to the pope.

Zen said he supported the Vietnamese system under which the Church chose its bishops and the government approved the decision.

Source

• Church
• AsiaNews.it
• Images: www.dici.org

"You (the Chinese communists) can tie me up, can take me away, chop my head off, but not as a slave," said the cardinal in an online radio programme on June 12.

Hong Kong people should "not succumb to fate but maintain one's own dignity", the cardinal said, warning that "if we kneel down, everything will be finished".

China's State Council released the white paper on June 11, emphasising its total control over Hong Kong.

The policy statement said "the high degree of autonomy enjoyed by Hong Kong is subject to the central government's authorisation. There is no such thing called 'residual power' for the special administrative region".

The document sparked widespread discontent among Hong Kong residents.

This was because it appeared to break the promise of 50 years of autonomy given to Hong Kong after the former British colony was returned to China in 1997.

The cardinal called on people to vote in a June 20-22 non-official referendum on universal suffrage for the election of the chief executive in 2017 and to show their aspiration for full democracy.

The referendum was proposed by organisers of Occupy Central, who vow to bring the city's financial hub to a standstill if the government fails to produce a plan for democratic rule in Hong Kong.

"There is no space for compromise. Our bottom line is to use a nonviolent approach," said the cardinal.

On June 14, Cardinal Zen, 82, began an 84-hour march for democracy around the territory to encourage people to participate in the upcoming referendum.

More than 50 Catholics were expected to walk with him each day until June 20.

"He walked on the frontline to fight for a better life for the next generation. Shouldn't we fight for ourselves for a life that we want to live?" said a young woman on why she will walk alongside the cardinal.

Public nomination for chief executive in Hong Kong has been vetoed by Beijing as against the city's mini-constitution.

This has led to concerns pro-democracy candidates will be screened out.

Sources

• UCA News
• South China Morning Post
• Image: Ejinsight