HONG KONG (UCAN) -- Cardinal Joseph Zen Ze-kiun of Hong Kong said that his interview with La Stampa, which the Italian newspaper published on May 26, was "belated and misplaced," because it was given on May 11, the day before the devastating Sichuan earthquake.

On May 27, local Chinese media carried reports on Cardinal Zen's remarks, in which he used the word "fascism" in discussing the danger of nationalism in China.

In a May 27 press statement, Cardinal Zen said La Stampa caused dismay to many people by releasing the interview when it did. It is "highly inconceivable," he says, that the paper has chosen this moment for "juxtaposing the fascism with the Chinese leaders amid calamities and disasters."

He also pointed out a serious error of a local Chinese newspaper, which misquoted him as saying that the Chinese Catholic Patriotic Association is highly appreciated by the "open" and "underground" Catholic communities in mainland China.

The English version of his press statement, also released in Chinese, follows:

Response to a belated and untimely report from La Stampa

Cardinal ZEN, Bishop of Hong Kong, was in Rome on May 11. He was interviewed by "La Stampa" from Turin. Obviously, the disaster at Sichuan had not occurred before the interview. However, "La Stampa" published the interview yesterday (May 26, 2008), two weeks afterwards. Unfortunately, several media in Hong Kong have reported the interview, which was apparently belated and misplaced.

In the interview, Cardinal Zen commented on the Olympics Torch Relay, quoting from various views from overseas and mainland. In the macro orientation of 'China's peaceful rise', he pledged [pleaded] for indulgence and generosity, urging to avoid nationalism of dictatorship, as fanatical patriotism would often lead to extreme behaviour. To illustrate his point more vividly to his Italian readers, Cardinal Zen sought to evoke their experience of 'fascism'. He prayed that China would escape from the dictatorship of nationalism. Meanwhile, Cardinal Zen emphatically discussed religious freedom; he indicated that Pope Benedict's proposed visit to China should not be materialised before full resurgence of religious freedom, hence it would be highly improbable before the Beijing Olympic Games in August.

On May 12, the disasters occurred in Sichuan. Cardinal Zen immediately called Hong Kong, directing the Catholic Diocese and Caritas Hong Kong to deliver immediate assistance. He returned from Rome on May 17, and began visiting parishes, appealing for prayers and donations.

In the past two weeks, the Chinese Leaders have revealed high transparency and openness in relief process and strategy -- a human orientated mind-set, which would allow full access to international relief, and full coverage from media of no discrimination. Thus, China has deservedly won international acclaims. At this point, to the dismay of many people, "La Stampa" releases the interview. It is highly inconceivable that they have chosen this very moment to juxtaposing the fascism with the Chinese leaders amid calamities and disasters.

Finally, "Mingpao" in Hong Kong has made a serious error in today's related report. They misquoted Cardinal Zen saying "that the current Chinese Catholic Patriotic Association is 'highly appreciated' both by official and underground Catholics." The original report from "La Stampa" reveals that 'highly appreciated' is being used to qualify the Chinese Catholics in terms of their attitude to the public letter from Pope Benedict last year. In fact, Cardinal Zen said, "The tension between the two groups (i.e. official and underground) has been created through exterior factors, including political and other factors. The principal blockage to the normalisation of the Catholic Church in China is in fact the Chinese Catholic Patriotic Association."

END