Skip to content
The Catholic Leader
  • Home
  • News
    • QLD
    • Australia
    • Regional
    • Education
    • World
    • Vatican
  • Features
  • Opinion
  • Life
    • Family
    • Relationships
    • Faith
  • Culture
  • People
  • Subscribe
  • Jobs
  • Contribute
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
    • QLD
    • Australia
    • Regional
    • Education
    • World
    • Vatican
  • Features
  • Opinion
  • Life
    • Family
    • Relationships
    • Faith
  • Culture
  • People
  • Subscribe
  • Jobs
  • Contribute
No Result
View All Result
The Catholic Leader
No Result
View All Result
Home News World

Cardinal Joseph Zen appears in court in Hong Kong on day of prayer for China

by Staff writers
25 May 2022
Reading Time: 3 mins read
A A
Hong Kong

Cardinal arrest: Cardinal Joseph Zen Ze-kiun. Photo: CNS

CARDINAL Joseph Zen appeared in court in Hong Kong on Tuesday, a date which is the World Day of Prayer for the Church in China.

The 90-year-old former Catholic bishop of Hong Kong was charged in court on May 24 with four other prominent democracy advocates who were all trustees of the 612 Humanitarian Relief Fund, which helped pro-democracy protesters to pay their legal fees.

All five entered a plea of not guilty to the charge of failing to register the humanitarian fund with the police, according to AFP.

For a first conviction, this charge can reportedly incur a fine of up to $1274, but likely will not fall under Hong Kong’s national security law.

The date set for Cardinal Zen’s trial is September 19.

Father Joseph Chan, Hong Kong’s vicar general was present in the courtroom, but the cleric told AFP that he was not there as a representative of the diocese.

Cardinal Zen offered a Mass to pray for China on the night of May 24, the feast of Our Lady Help of Christians.

Pope Benedict XVI proclaimed the Marian feast as the annual World Day of Prayer for the Church in China in 2007.

Cardial Zen was arrested by the authorities in Hong Kong on May 11 and was released on bail later on the same day.

Diplomats from Italy, France, Germany, Sweden, and other European countries were in the courtroom to attend Cardinal Zen’s hearing.

Related Stories

China’s new ‘Smart Religion’ app that requires worshippers to register

Vatican renews China deal

New Chinese Catholic leaders say they’ll follow Communist Party principles

The cardinal’s arrest earlier this month sparked reactions around the world. A Holy See spokesman said that the Holy See “is following the development … with extreme attention.”

White House principal deputy press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre called on Chinese and Hong Kong authorities to “cease targeting Hong Kong’s advocates and to immediately release those who have been unjustly detained and charged, like the Cardinal Joseph Zen … and others arrested today.”

David Alton, an independent member of the House of Lords, the upper house of the UK parliament, described the cardinal’s arrest as “an act of outrageous intimidation.”

Pope Francis said in his Regina Coeli address on May 22 that he is praying for the Church in China and “attentively and actively following the often complex life and situations of the faithful and pastors” there.

Without specifically mentioning Cardinal Zen by name, the pope called on people to pray for Catholics in China “so that the Church in China, in freedom and tranquility, might live in effective communion with the universal Church, and might exercise its mission of proclaiming the Gospel to everyone.”

CNA

Previous Post

15 killed in Texas school shooting

Next Post

Nuncio take in the sights of Queensland’s far north

Staff writers

Related Posts

China’s new ‘Smart Religion’ app that requires worshippers to register

8 March 2023
Vatican renews China deal

Vatican renews China deal

24 October 2022
New Chinese Catholic leaders say they’ll follow Communist Party principles
Hot Topics

New Chinese Catholic leaders say they’ll follow Communist Party principles

24 August 2022
Next Post
Nuncio take in the sights of Queensland’s far north

Nuncio take in the sights of Queensland's far north

Pope Francis – ‘My heart is broken’ over Texas elementary school shooting

Pope Francis – ‘My heart is broken’ over Texas elementary school shooting

Blessed Sacrament desecrated in robbery of sacred vessels at Canberra church

Blessed Sacrament desecrated in robbery of sacred vessels at Canberra church

Popular News

  • The Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception is a time to celebrate the joy of God’s gift to humanity in Mary

    The Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception is a time to celebrate the joy of God’s gift to humanity in Mary

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Why do we pray to St Anthony when we want to find something?

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • St Ambrose and the conversion of St Augustine

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • The betrothal of Mary and Joseph

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Eleven saint quotes on the Eucharist for Corpus Christi Sunday

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
Search our job finder
No Result
View All Result

Never miss a story. Sign up to the Weekly Round-Up
eNewsletter now to receive headlines directly in your email.

Sign up to eNews
  • About
  • Advertise
  • Contact
  • Contribute
  • Jobs
  • Subscribe

The Catholic Leader is an Australian award-winning Catholic newspaper that has been published by the Archdiocese of Brisbane since 1929. Our journalism seeks to provide a full, accurate and balanced Catholic perspective of local, national and international news while upholding the dignity of the human person.

Copyright © All Rights Reserved The Catholic Leader
Accessibility Information | Privacy Policy | Archdiocese of Brisbane

The Catholic Leader acknowledges Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people as the First Peoples of this country and especially acknowledge the traditional owners on whose lands we live and work throughout the Catholic Archdiocese of Brisbane.

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
    • QLD
    • Australia
    • Regional
    • Education
    • World
    • Vatican
  • Features
  • Opinion
  • Life
    • Family
    • Relationships
    • Faith
  • Culture
  • People
  • Subscribe
  • Jobs
  • Contribute

Copyright © All Rights Reserved The Catholic Leader

0
    0
    Your Cart
    Your cart is emptyChoose another Subscription
    Continue Shopping