About Face!

Ambrose Leung is reporting in Friday's SCMP.com that Anthony Liu Bainan, vice chairman of the Chinese Catholic Patriotic Association, has come out with some harsh words about Hong Kong's Bishop Zen. Only a few weeks ago, Liu was quoted as giving high praise for the Cardinal-elect. Now?

"If China's bishops were all like him then it would be dangerous like Poland ... Bishop Zen is widely known as an opponent of communism," Mr Liu said in an interview with Reuters.
But he also praised Pope Benedict's traditionalist views and love of ritual, saying he liked the Pope's conservative tendencies when it came to faith and theological dogma.
"China has never doubted the status of the Pope, but some western theologians have. The split is in politics and state relations," Mr Liu said.
He also said that the Vatican should sever diplomatic ties with Taiwan and disputed its power to appoint mainland bishops.

Oh yeah, to translate, being an opponent to Communism is not meant to be a compliment in this case.
The Hong Kong diocese is planning a response for later Friday.