The latest chapter of Cardinal Joseph Zen’s persecution by the Chinese Communist Party has come to an end with a verdict of guilty.
Zen had originally been charged under the CCP’s security law which was used to stifle dissent, under allegations of collusion with foreign forces by dissidents.
This accusation of collusion with foreign interests could have landed him with a life imprisonment sentence, something that would have made him a martyr and would have been a massive public relations disaster for the Chinese Communist Party, which works hard to downplay evidence of its mistreatment of religious minorities.
The guilty verdict was passed under a more archaic law against public disruption, which did not carry jail time and which imposed only a fine.
Zen has often criticised the Vatican’s agreement with the CCP, which was renewed recently. Critics of the pact will say that the brazen conviction is evidence of the failure of the agreement while supporters of it will say that the relative leniency is evidence that it has helped to make progress.
One thing is certain, Cardinal Zen has given a brave example against the same forces of evil that Pope John Paul II helped to bring to their knees in the 1980s.
The Christians of China must remain in our prayers.
We especially remember those brave Catholics who have kept the Legion of Mary active under Communist rule in China.
We must not think that it can never return to the West.
