China discusses reconciliation with dissident bishop

BY MARK GREAVES
THE 'OFFICIAL' Catholic church in China may invite the recently nominated Hong Kong cardinal to Beijing in an effort to improve the deteriorating relationship between China and the Vatican.
The elevation of Bishop Zen Ze-Kiun of Hong Kong an outspoken critic of the Communist regime and now the most powerful Chinese voice in the Church to the position of cardinal has been viewed with alarm by the Chinese authorities.
A row broke out last week in which the official church accused the Vatican of seeking to undermine China's Communist government in the same way it had the Polish government of the 1980s.
But, according to Bishop Fang Xingyao, the staterecognised church is considering inviting the Hong Kong dissident to the mainland a move that suggests a more conciliatory approach may be taken.
Bishop Fang, vice-chairman of the Chinese Catholic Bishops' Regiment, also called on the cardinal-designate, who will be given his red hat on March 24, to refrain from criticising Beijing's policies and to help strengthen ties between mainland and Hong Kong churches. "The normalisation of diplomatic ties between China and the Vatican is very important, and we hope Cardinal Zen can make a personal effort to help solve the issue," he said.
A move by Beijing towards reconciliation with Bishop Zen and the Vatican would have huge implications for the 12 million Catholics in China who remain loyal to Rome and endure systematic persecution by the Chinese government.
But quite a different tone was adopted last week by Liu Bainian, vice-chairman of the Catholic Patriotic Association, who made a direct attack on the controversial Hong Kong bishop.
"Why would you appoint someone who doesn't support Communism as a cardinal?" he said. "ls it like Poland? Didn't the Church play a big role in Poland?"
Mr Liu, whose organisation controls all of China's state-sanctioned churches, spoke on Friday on Hong Kong radio after a two-day exchange with Bishop Zen.
"If China's bishops were all like him then it would be dangerous like Poland." said Mr Liu. "Bishop Zen is widely known as an opponent of Communism." Earlier in the week, the dispute drew in the involvement of the Chinese government, when foreign minister Li Zhaoxing warned Bishop Zen to avoid mixing politics and religion.
The dissident bishop is a strong supporter of religious freedom and has insisted that his new position would not inhibit him from protesting against the persecution of Chinese Catholics.
"People say I am rebellious," he commented. "But if you help the underprivileged, you have to speak louder or no one can hear you."
Bishop Zen said last week that Mr Liu's comparison of China and Poland was "an act of far-fetched imagination".
He drew attention to the plight of Catholics who refused to join the official church and were therefore unable to freely express their beliefs.
"If freedom were granted to the bishops, priests and faithful to speak out, one would hear views that are very different from those expressed by Mr Liu," he said. Catholics who form part of the illegal, "underground" Church in China have been suppressed for more than 50 years. The Christian charity Aid to
the Church in Need estimates that as many as 30 Catholic priests are currently imprisoned or under house arrest.