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☆ Former Hong Kong publisher Jimmy Lai begins to testify in his national security trial
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-20 | by ( Https | Media-Cldnry.S-Nbcnews.Com Image Upload Newscms Ap-Live-Blog-Byline-Image.Png | The Associated Press | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +4 min

HONG KONG — Former Hong Kong publisher Jimmy Lai began testifying Wednesday in his landmark national security trial that is widely seen as a measure of press freedom and judicial independence in the Chinese territory. He is fighting charges of colluding with foreign forces to endanger national security and conspiring with others to issue seditious publications. Lai, 76, faces up to life in prison if convicted under a national security law imposed by Beijing. But critics say that promise has become threadbare under the rubric of maintaining national security. It added that judges remain independent and partial when handling national security cases.

Persons: Jimmy Lai, Lai, Roman Catholic Cardinal Joseph Zen, Anthony Wallace, Mike Pence, Mike Pompeo, William Wong, Wong, Kongers, “, ”, Donald Trump, Xi Jinping, Hong, John Lee, Lai ., Keir Starmer, Xi, Chris Tang, Sebastien Lai, Doughty, Chambers, Jodie Ginsber Organizations: Roman Catholic, Catholic, Apple Daily, Getty, British, Authorities, Prosecutors, Beijing “, U.S, American, United Nations, Capitol, Protect Journalists, Hong Locations: HONG KONG, Hong Kong, Beijing, AFP, United States, U.S, Lai . British, British, Brazil, Hong, Britain, Washington

☆ Beijing Bishop Visits Hong Kong Amid Tensions Between China and Vatican
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-14 | by ( Nov. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +2 min

By Jessie Pang and Joyce ZhouHONG KONG (Reuters) - China's state-backed Bishop of Beijing visited Hong Kong on Tuesday amid fears among some Catholics that Beijing wants tighter control over religious affairs in Hong Kong. The visit is the first trip by a mainland Chinese bishop since the former British colony was returned to China in 1997 and follows a landmark visit to the Chinese capital by his Hong Kong counterpart in April. Hong Kong has traditionally been seen as a regional Catholic hub on the edge of the Chinese mainland under officially-atheist Communist Party rule. Hong Kong has 600,000 Catholics. Tensions between Beijing and the Vatican over the appointment of bishops saw a confidential pact struck in 2018.

Persons: Jessie Pang, Joyce Zhou HONG, Bishop, Pope, Bishop Joseph Li, Li, of Hong Kong Stephen Chow, Chow, Cardinal Joseph Zen, Zen, Tyrone Siu, Joyce Zhou, Michael Perry Organizations: Reuters, Hong, Hong Kong Catholic Cathedral, Hong Kong Liaison Office, Communist Party Locations: Joyce Zhou HONG KONG, Beijing, Hong Kong, China, of Hong Kong, Vatican, China . Hong Kong, Asia

☆ Pope Francis says some people in same-sex unions could be blessed
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-02 | by ( Barbie Latza Nadeau | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

Rome CNN —Pope Francis has suggested for the first time that people in same-sex unions could be blessed by Catholic priests on a “case-by-case” basis, a seeming reversal of previous statements. The cardinals, Walter Brandmuller, Raymond Leo Burke, Juan Sandoval Iniguez, Robert Sarah and Joseph Zen Ze-kiun, first sent the letter to Pope Francis on July 10. It focused on an upcoming October meeting of bishops, asking what impact it could have on Church’s teaching, and included questions about the Pope’s intention to bless same-sex unions, and whether he intends to open the door to women priests through ordination. The Vatican then released a letter in Spanish dated September 25 signed by Cardinal Victor Manuel Fernández, the Vatican’s new chief of doctrine. The response includes Pope Francis’ answers to the dubia, signed “Francis.”On the issue of homosexual unions, the pontiff reiterated that the church only recognizes marriage as a union between a man and a woman, but opened the door for blessings of individuals in same-sex unions, the letter shows.

Persons: Rome, Rome CNN — Pope Francis, Pope, –, Walter Brandmuller, Raymond Leo Burke, Juan Sandoval Iniguez, Robert Sarah, Joseph Zen Ze, Pope Francis, Cardinal Raymond Burke, Burke, Cardinal Victor Manuel Fernández, Pope Francis ’, “ Francis, ”, Pope John Paul II, vaguer, “ Organizations: Rome CNN, Catholic, Church Locations: Cologne, Rome

☆ Conservatives challenge pope on women, same-sex couples before Vatican meeting
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-02 | by ( Philip Pullella | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

[1/5] Cardinal Raymond Leo Burke attends a consistory as Pope Francis elevates five Roman Catholic prelates to the rank of cardinal, at Saint Peter's Basilica at the Vatican, June 28, 2017. The action was the latest latest clash between the pope and minority conservatives, who have accused him of undermining a number of traditional precepts. Topics will include the role of women, greater acceptance of LGBT Catholics, social justice and the effects of climate change on the poor. At the meeting, around 365 "members", including cardinals, bishops, lay people and, for the first time, women will vote on proposals. Conservatives have taken issue with the fact that many lay people will have voting rights in a what is formally a Synod of Bishops.

Persons: Cardinal Raymond Leo Burke, Pope Francis, Alessandro Bianchi, Raymond Burke, Walter Brandmueller of, Joseph Zen, Robert Sarah of Guinea, Juan Sandoval Iniquez, Francis, Cardinal Gerhard Mueller, Burke, Saint Pope John Paul II, Philip Pullella, Andrew Heavens Organizations: Vatican, REUTERS, CITY, America, National Catholic Register, Thomson Locations: Saint Peter's, Asia, Europe, Africa, United States, Walter Brandmueller of Germany, Hong Kong, Mexico, Germany, Vatican, U.S

☆ Vatican says China violated pact on bishops, wants explanation
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-26 | by ( Philip Pullella | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

REUTERS/Aly SongVATICAN CITY, Nov 26 (Reuters) - The Vatican on Saturday accused Chinese authorities of violating a bilateral pact on the appointment of bishops by installing one in a diocese not recognised by the Holy See. A statement said the Vatican learned with "surprise and regret" that the bishop of another district had been installed as auxiliary, or assistant, bishop in Jiangxi. The unauthorized installation appeared to be one of the most serious violations of a 2018 agreement between the Vatican and Beijing on the appointment of bishops. The Vatican was expecting an explanation from Chinese authorities and was hoping that the "similar episodes are not repeated," the statement said. The Vatican statement came a day after a Hong Kong court found Zen and five others guilty of failing to register a now-disbanded fund for pro-democracy protesters.

☆ Cardinal Joseph Zen Convicted by Hong Kong Court in Crackdown on Dissent
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-25 | by ( Elaine Yu | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

HONG KONG—Retired bishop and longtime Hong Kong democracy advocate Cardinal Joseph Zen was convicted of failing to register a fund providing aid to antigovernment protesters, the latest court verdict in a continuing crackdown on dissent in the city. The 90-year-old cardinal, along with other prominent activists including local pop singer Denise Ho and veteran barrister Margaret Ng, didn’t file paperwork for the 612 Humanitarian Relief Fund, a court ruled Friday. The now-defunct fund offered financial and legal assistance to people arrested during the protests that convulsed the city from 2019 up until China’s imposition of a sweeping national security law on the semiautonomous territory the following summer.

☆ Vatican confirms renewal of contested accord with China on bishops' appointments
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-22 | by ( Philip Pullella | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

VATICAN CITY, Oct 22 (Reuters) - The Vatican on Saturday said that it and China had renewed a secret and contested agreement on the appointment of Roman Catholic bishops in the communist country. The deal was a bid to ease a longstanding divide across mainland China between an underground flock loyal to the pope and a state-backed official church. The Vatican-China deal centres on cooperation over the appointment of bishops, giving the pope the final and decisive say. They also point to increasing restrictions on religious freedoms in China for Christians and other minorities. Last month, the Vatican tried to arrange a meeting between Xi, 69, and the pope, 85, while both leaders were in Kazakhstan, but China declined.

☆ Hong Kong’s Cardinal Zen Goes on Trial Over Support Fund for Protesters
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-26 | by ( Elaine Yu | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

HONG KONG—Cardinal Joseph Zen, a 90-year-old retired bishop and outspoken democracy advocate, appeared in court to face trial over his involvement in providing aid to protesters who swarmed the city in 2019 and triggered a broad political crackdown. The cardinal, alongside other campaigners including local pop singer Denise Ho and prominent barrister Margaret Ng, were among six people charged with allegedly failing to register a fund that offered legal and financial aid to arrested pro-democracy protesters.

China's foreign minister Wang Yi has toured the Pacific islands seeking security deals with them. In this op-ed, Görlach analyzes why China's moves are worrying so many different nations. Recently, China's foreign minister, Wang Yi, completed a tour of the Pacific islands, aiming to increase Beijing's influence in the region through security deals. China's goal is not to improve the quality of life for people in the Pacific, but to become the predominant power there. The deal that China proposed to the Pacific islands focused on security.

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