A Hong Kong cardinal has criticised the Chinese government’s involvement in ordinations, saying they are neither political nor economic matters, after officials reportedly launched an investigation into the Vatican-approved ordination of Auxiliary Bishop Thaddeus Ma Daqin last week, reports Ucanews.
Bishop Ma announced at the event that he would quit his posts at the state-sanctioned Chinese Catholic Patriotic Association (CCPA). Chinese officials reportedly have kept Bishop Ma from his episcopal ministry in response to his announcement.
“Dialogue between China and the Vatican is a must. It is very urgent now to resolve the dramatic case of Bishop Ma Daqin,” Cardinal John Tong Hon said. “Only with dialogue will a ‘win-win’ result eventually be achieved.”
Cardinal Tong has headed the Hong Kong diocese’s Holy Spirit Study Centre since it was founded in 1980. The centre does research on the life of the Church in China.
The Chinese government needs to respect human rights and religion for the sake of justice, human dignity and the welfare of the people. This is the only way of achieving social harmony and a good international image, he said.
“I appreciated Bishop Ma’s courage,” Cardinal Tong told ucanews.com in his first remarks on the events.
FULL STORY Cardinal says illicit ordinations must end (Ucanews)