China warns cardinal not to mix in politics

Joseph Cardinal Zen Ze-kiun, S.D.B.

Function: Bishop of Hong Kong [Xianggang]

Title:

Birthdate: Jan 13, 1932	Country: Hong Kong

Elevated: Mar 24, 2006	More information: [link=http://www.catholic-hierarchy.org/bishop/bzenz.html][www.catholic-hierarchy.org]

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China warns cardinal not to mix in politics
Mar 29, 2006
Beijing: The Chinese government Monday warned the Vatican and Hong Kong's new cardinal, Joseph Zen Ze-Kiun, not to mix in Chinese politics.

(newkerala.com, 27 Mar 2006) "Church people should not get involved in political affairs," a spokesperson for the Catholic department of the State Administration of Religious Affairs said in a reaction to Friday's elevation of Hong Kong's bishop to cardinal.

The spokesman also referred to China's long-standing positions that the Vatican should not interfere in China's internal affairs in any form and should end its relations with Taiwan, which Beijing considers a breakaway province.

Zen has been a critic of China and made a name for himself in Hong Kong as a human rights advocate and proponent of religious rights. He said he sees himself as a "Chinese voice at the Holy See."

Despite his open criticism of China's government, Zen also advocates closer ties between Beijing and the Vatican, which are now engaged in talks that have not officially been confirmed.

Pope Benedict XVI elevated Zen and 14 other church leaders to cardinals in a ceremony at St Peter's Square.

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