Cardinal Joseph Zen has said he fears the Vatican will betray the underground Church in China by pursuing a deal with the government.
In an interview with LifeSiteNews, the Bishop Emeritus of Hong Kong said he had written “many letters” to Pope Francis, pleading for him not to strike a deal with the Chinese government over bishops, but had not received any response.
The Catholic Church operates underground in China. Catholics are expected to join the Chinese Patriotic Catholic Association – the government-controlled Church in which bishops are installed by the Chinese government and not the Vatican – but many choose to worship secretly. Bishops of the underground Church, loyal to the Vatican, often face imprisonment and persecution.
