Cardinal Zen, the "Deviant Bishop" talks to the press

For this post I have only included quotes taken directly from a press conference (see the link below) that I transcribed myself or from the South China Morning Post from Ambrose Leung who was also at the press conference. Compare these with whatever you may be reading in the US press; I am sure it is a matter of translation and some of his answers being repeated to similar questions. But some of the picture painted here is a little different than some of the screaming headlines in the states. Not majorly, though.

You might have better luck with this than I, but this is supposed to be video of Bishop Zen's press conference. As far as I could find (in a 1 hour conference) he fielded a few questions in English that I have transcribed to the best of my abilities. The problem I had was that after only a few minutes the video stopped and I only had audio. It seems that some of the questions he answers in English he refers to similar answers he already gave in Chinese.

If you wish to follow along in the video, Samantha Broun of CNN starts at 20:19.

Broun: Hi, Samantha Broun, CNN. I was just wondering what correspondence have you had from the Mainland government following your appointment? Have they called to congratulate you?

Bishop Zen:Uh, not yet, heh heh (murmur of laughter in the room). They say they still have no very precise information, at least what I read this morning on the papers. But I’m sure they would appreciate this gesture of the Holy Father because even when the Holy Father invited the four bishops to the Synod, they could not go, but still the government spokesman said something very friendly, “Actually we appreciate the good will of the Holy Father, but maybe the procedure you know has some problem.” So I’m sure that the Chinese Government will receive this you know with good will because it is evidently a sign of special benevolence the Holy Father for the Chinese people

Then at 22:35, this woman from the Associated Press (maybe her name was Penny?)

Woman from Associated Press: First of all, congratulations. And uh, as you said, your appointment has shown that China is a priority for the Pope, and you are seen as a an expert on the Chinese Church. So my first question is so what do you think you will do for you can do to improve the situation of the Catholic Church in China where millions of Catholics still cannot enjoy freedom of religion and the second question is—

Moderator: Can we do it one-by-one please? Sorry.

AP: Okay.

Bishop: Obviously everybody would admit that the situation is not normal if you compare how the Church is run in China and the Church operates in other parts of the world you see much difference. If you happen to know something about what is going on. And so I think there is a will on both sides to normalize. So I think that there is no offense to anybody to say that the actual situation is not normal. And so the desire for normalization is on both sides and so I think this is a good start

Moderator: Your second question please

AP: And what do you think your role in after appointment in opening the diplomatic relationship between China and Vatican?

Bishop: I will say in Chinese that my activity and my role will be determined by the Holy See, by the Holy Father. So now I’m just guessing what may be that role. And surely it’s a role which a Chinese Bishop may fulfill. So I hope it surely has some relation with the normalization situation in China.

At 24:48 another woman reporter, news agency unknown to me.

Another female reporter: First of all, congratulations. I have a question about ummm the Vatican’s, uh, the appointment of you as a Cardinal by the Vatican. Do you see this as an acknowledgement of the Vatican of the role you play in defending the Truth and Justice in Hong Kong? And another thing is, also do you also see, I was just wondering, you also see there will be some difference to this role you play in defending and speaking the Truth in Hong Kong? Do you see a difference in this role of being a spiritual leader in Hong Kong? And will you play a more proactive role here? Thank you

Bishop Zen: (Pause) I would say that what I’ve been doing here in HK surely was no objection to my being created Cardinal. So the Holy See is surely well-informed of what I’m doing here in Hong Kong. But to say that this be the reason why they make me a Cardinal that is not sure because I think that Hong Kong is Hong Kong and China is China so I think that maybe it’s more because of my experience of China than my activity in Hong Kong. But surely what I’ve done in Hong Kong was no objection to make me a Cardinal.

Then at 50:04 yet another female reporter asked about the Bishop's image of himself as a "deviant bishop." I can't believe this phrase didn't make the headlines.

Yet another female reporter: You mentioned that there is a possibility you could be appointed a special advisor or assistant of the Pope on China affairs (mumbles something). How likely will that be? And what do you hope to achieve if that’s the case? And the second one is. Earlier on you called yourself as a “deviant bishop.” And you seem to express some reservations as to whether the Vatican would acknowledge this role of being a “deviant bishop,” which in your definition is just speaking louder for the underprivileged. I just wonder if you see there will be a need to change that deviant style? Thank you.

Bishop Zen: First of all I said in Chinese that it is not necessary for an appointment as a “Special Advisor.” So if the Pope wants to ask me advices about China he can do that without making a formal appointment. Then I think I said that the important thing is not so much the style. I think that in a civilized society people easily tolerate any style, provided you don’t insult people. Then any style may be accepted. But important is what you say be the truth. So I think maybe I’ve a little bit to be a more cautious, but I don’t think it is as much I should change because I think what I did was not wrong, so it is not much to change

Then a male American Reporter starts his preface in Chinese at time marker 53:46 and then he switches to English. Bishop Zen cannot hear him very well, so he repeats his question, starting around at time marker 54:20

Reporter: Bishop Zen, Your relationship with China has been at times tense, now was wondering that while in public they may welcome your elevation to Cardinal, in private they may resent it because you’re so outspoken and do you think that would harm the prospects of normalization of ties between China and the Vatican?

Bishop Zen: I am afraid I have not understood very clearly, but maybe more or less I see the point. My relation with the Chinese Authority I think can be qualified as a --how to say-- a watching attitude. Uh, obviously after that march in 2003, many papers classify me as “Enemy” already but I don’t think that’s what the Central Authority have ratified because they still take a watching attitude. So, for example, in 2004, my friends in Shanghai succeeded to bring me to make a visit to Shanghai for three days and then they owe this official occasions I still receive not only invitation but pressing invitations [emphasis his] to join to visit to the religious institutions in Guangdong Province for example. And so I think it is very easy to improve because there is not an 80 year breakdown. I mean, it’s
open!

Shortly after I heard them call on Ambrose (for a second time), who I think would be Ambrose Leung who is covering this for the South China Morning Post. He asked a question in Chinese, and got what sounded to me a fairly lengthy reply. Perhaps some of that can be found in the article that is running on Friday in the SCMP.

One nugget reminds me of a certain German Kardinal who had a similar dream:

The cardinal-designate said his only regret about being appointed to the top Church post was that his dream of spending his retirement teaching in his native Shanghai could be over.

And I haven't seen this hinted at before, but maybe we are all jumping the gun on what Beijing says about the possibility of a Cardinal Zen:

Cardinal Zen, 74, said he had yet to learn from the Pope whether he would stay on as bishop of Hong Kong or receive a posting in the Vatican, but vowed to continue his fight for social justice.

And some direct quotes from the Bishop himself as printed in the SCMP:

People have described me as being outspoken and rebellious. Being outspoken is no problem, as our Pope stressed we should speak the truth ... Peace can only emerge from the truth

In a civilised society the general public has the right to be outspoken ... As long as I am bishop of Hong Kong, I will speak when necessary

What I have been doing in Hong Kong is following the Church's social teaching to uphold truth and justice. There will not be any fundamental change

I am 74, I fear some things are hard to change. But perhaps I can be more careful.

I think it is also important to note that the Bishop has not only been critical of the PRC, but also the central government of Hong Kong. At one point during the aftermath of the WTO summit in Hong Kong last year, the Police of Hong Kong were planning to write directly to the Pope complaining about Zen's criticism of their treatment of protesting Korean farmers and his participation in the farmers' sit-in. Oh yeah, that and HK$1000 Red Envelope to every arrested protestor. That might have made some authority-types mad.

And here is something you don't read everyday in the U.S. Notice Ambrose Leung's description of the dissenters. Of course, I have no idea what "conservative" means in this case. It is all relative.

When asked whether his elevation would quiet dissent from conservative clerics and the lay faithful, Cardinal Zen said it was normal for different opinions to exist and called on his "brothers and sisters" to be frank and discuss any concerns with him.