World News
Cardinal urges Chinese bishops to fulfill responsibilities to church
Published: January 2, 2009
HONG KONG (CNS) -- Cardinal Joseph Zen Ze-kiun of Hong Kong called on Catholic bishops in mainland China to courageously fulfill their responsibilities to the church, saying compromise cannot last forever. "Don't be afraid. Bear the responsibilities that history has placed upon you. In this critical moment, your choice could revive the church or it could let her languish for a long time," he told the mainland bishops. "You are held accountable to history and you must be prepared to stand firm without blemish before God's judgment." The Asian church news agency UCA News reported that the cardinal made the call in his article, "Inspiration From St. Stephen's Martyrdom," in the Jan. 4 issue of Kung Kao Po, the Hong Kong Diocese's Chinese-language weekly. Cardinal Zen had announced to local media Dec. 24 that Pope Benedict XVI had agreed to let him retire in the first half of 2009, although the date of the retirement has yet to be announced, and that after retirement he would focus on Chinese church affairs.
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