Hong Kong cardinals keep spotlight on detained Shanghai bishop

(July 18, 2012) Hong Kong's cardinals have kept a new Shanghai bishop in the media spotlight, as Chinese authorities keep up the pressure on him. Cardinal John Tong Hon told the Asian Catholic news agency UCA News that "Dialogue between China and the Vatican is a must. It is very urgent now to resolve the dramatic case of Bishop Thaddeus Ma Daqin. Only with dialogue will a 'win-win' result eventually be achieved," he said. Twice in one week, Cardinal Joseph Zen Ze-kiun, retired bishop of Hong Kong, joined local Catholics at prayer services for Bishop Ma outside Beijing's Liaison Office in Hong Kong. Bishop Ma, who was approved by the Vatican and government authorities, was ordained July 7 and promptly announced he was giving up his positions in the government-sanctioned Catholic Patriotic Association, which is not recognized by the Vatican. He has since reportedly been confined to the compound of Shanghai's Sheshan seminary and prohibited from assuming his duties as bishop. Cardinal Tong said Bishop Ma's ordination united China's two Catholic communities: Those, whose leaders have registered with the government and those whose leaders have not. "I appreciated Bishop Ma's courage," Cardinal Tong told UCA News. Cardinal Tong also spoke of the illicit ordination of Fr.Joseph Yue Fusheng, who was ordained bishop of Harbin without papal mandate. "Illicit bishops have become isolated as Catholics are staying away from them. There is no point in proceeding with illicit ordinations," Cardinal Tong said.