Cardinal Zen: I fear Vatican will sell out China's underground Church

Cardinal Joseph Zen has accused the Vatican of betraying 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 has written “many letters” to Pope Francis, pleading for him not to strike a deal with the Chinese government over bishops, but has not had 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.