Cardinal Zen Furious With Cardinal Parolin’s Ostpolitik With Communist China

Catholic Culture: “The Communists want to enslave the Church” in China, Cardinal Joseph Zen has warned in a new statement warning against a proposed Vatican deal with Beijing.

Escalating his criticism of Vatican negotiators, Cardinal Zen took aim at a statement in which Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Secretary of State, explained the Vatican’s approach to the negotiations. Cardinal Zen charged that Cardinal Parolin ignores the dangers of Communist domination. He said that the Secretary of State “venerates the Ostpolitik diplomacy of his mater Casaroli [a reference to Cardinal Agostino Casaroli, the Secretary of State from 1979 to 1990, who was noted for his efforts to promote dialogue with the Soviet bloc] and despises the genuine faith of those who firmly defend the Church founded by Jesus on the apostles from any interference by secular power.” Full report is here.