Cardinal Joseph Zen, Bishop Emeritus of the Catholic Diocese of Hong Kong, was arrested by the National Security Department of the Hong Kong Police Force in May this year. It is alleged that he colluded with foreign powers when he was one of five trustees of the 612 Humanitarian Relief Fund. Recent sources reported that Cardinal Gerhard Muller, from the Catholic Diocese of Germany, reprimanded the Vatican for not showing any concern for Zen’s plight.
The Union of Catholic Asian News revealed on Sept. 5 that 226 Cardinals attended a conference in the Vatican in August. Cardinal Joseph Zen was unable to join the conference as he is on bail, his passport has been confiscated, and he is not allowed to leave Hong Kong. The senior Cardinals and Pope Francis did not pray for or even say anything in support of Joseph Zen. It seems they have abandoned him.
Cardinal Muller said the Cardinal Conference could have found an opportunity to fight for Joseph Zen, but since the Holy See reached a consensus with the Chinese Communist Party on an appointment of a Cardinal in China, they have done nothing to assist Joseph Zen. He said that such a stance is not consistent with the doctrine of the Holy See.
Joseph Zen is actively involved in assisting those arrested for participating in the anti-extradition Law Amendment Bill Movement. He was arrested by the National Security Department of the Hong Kong Police Force for violating the Hong Kong national security law.
Hui Po-keung, a scholar, Ho Wan-see, a singer, Ng Ngoi-yee, a veteran lawyer, and Ho Sau-lan, a former member of the Legislative Council of Hong Kong, were also arrested. They, along with Cardinal Zen, were trustees of the 612 Humanitarian Relief Fund and are charged with not registering, or waiving registration, of their organization within a defined period of time.
