CHINA - Professor defends Zen over letter guidelines

Published Date: February 9, 2010

Professor defends Zen over letter guidelines thumbnail

Sister Beatrice Leung Kit-fun

HONG KONG (UCAN) — Professor of International Relations Sister Beatrice Leung Kit-fun says that the attack on Cardinal Zen Ze-kiun in Italian Catholic magazine “30 Giorni” (30 Days) was counter-productive.

In a commentary for UCA News, the Precious Blood Sister writes that Cardinal Zen’s interpretation of the important letter from the Pope to Chinese Catholics in 2007 was essential in the absence of effective Church leadership review of the letter at the time.

Cardinal Zen’s interpretation of the papal letter, with his guidelines, should be seen simply as taking the place of what would normally be the function of the Chinese bishops’ conference, she says.

The “30 Giorni” article described Cardinal Zen’s interpretation of the letter as “out of the ordinary and self-inspired.”

Cardinal Zen defended himself against the accusations last week, saying they were unfair and groundless.

Public criticism of Cardinal Zen amounted to washing dirty linen in public and provided strength to the Communist Party’s divide and rule policy toward the Church, Sister Leung said.

Sister Leung teaches at various universities in Hong Kong and Macau, and has written a number of books and academic papers on China-Vatican relations.

Her latest is “China’s Religious Freedom Policy: An Art of Managing Religious Activity” The China Quarterly. Vol.184 (Dec.2005):894-913.

The full text of her commentary can be found here.

CH08772.1558 February 9, 2010 25 EM-lines (215 words)

Zen says magazine’s criticism groundless
Cardinal Zen slated for interpreting papal letter
Baoding bishop explains departure from ‘underground’ Church
Cardinal Zen publishes guide to Pope’s letter
Compendium clarifies 2007 papal letter to China´s Catholics

Rate this article