Police in Hong Kong arrested a 90-year-old Cardinal Joseph Zen, one of the most senior Catholic clerics in Asia, for raising money for pro-democracy protesters. Zen and three others who helped run a now-disbanded Hong Kong fund were arrested on charges of “collusion with foreign forces.”
The Diocese of Hong Kong says it is “extremely concerned” over the arrest of its former bishop, Cardinal Joseph Zen. Despite international condemnation over the 90-year-old cardinal’s arrest, China is justifying its actions. According to China’s foreign ministry, “Hong Kong is a law-based society where no organization or individual is above the law.”
Enforcement of a 2 year old national security law imposed in 2020 has quashed political dissent and imprisoned many pro-democracy advocates in the former British territory. The law punishes terrorism, collusion with foreign forces, subversion, and secession with possible life imprisonment.
The Vatican is currently concerned and is following developments “with extreme attention”.
