Joseph Zen is a Hong Kong-born Catholic cardinal who served as the sixth Bishop of Hong Kong. The National Security Police apprehended him on May 11, 2022.
Joseph was made a cardinal in 2006 and has been a vocal advocate for human rights, political liberty, and religious liberty. His close links to the pro-democracy side and the leadership of the People’s Republic of China are frequently criticized.
He stepped down on April 15, 2009, but remains a powerful pro-democracy figure in Hong Kong. He is well-known for his outspokenness when it comes to anything negative. Hong Kong’s national security authorities have detained the outspoken Catholic leader and activist Cardinal.
He is being held together with Margaret Ng Ngoi-yee, a former opposition member, and Denise Ho Wan-sze, a musician.
What Was Cardinal Joseph Zen Arrested For In China?
According to media reports, Cardinal Joseph Zen and four others were arrested by Hong Kong’s national security authorities for establishing a now-defunct humanitarian fund for demonstrators.
#BREAKING #EXCLUSIVE Hui Po-keung, a Hong Kong scholar who helped run a now-disbanded defence fund for democracy protesters was arrested yesterday at the airport under the national security law for alleged “collusion with foreign forces”. https://t.co/I04T93d1Us
— Xinqi Su 蘇昕琪 (@XinqiSu) May 11, 2022
Zen has long supported democratic movements in Hong Kong and China and has spoken out against President Xi Jinping’s rising authoritarianism. Zen and the others were charged with the same crime, according to the media.
The five were trustees of the “612 Humanitarian Relief Fund,” which provided financial assistance to protestors imprisoned during pro-democracy, anti-China demonstrations in 2019.
The fund was canceled after a firm that helped gather donations through a bank account went out of business last year. The arrests came after police announced in September that they had begun an investigation into the fund for possible national security legislation infractions.
Cardinal Joseph Zen Net Worth Explored
Cardinal Joseph Zen’s net worth is estimated to be between $1 and $5 million. As a Priest, he earns the majority of his income. However, given his online net worth, not much information needs to be made public.
Our hearts are broken! Many young people in the occupation were peaceful but they were shot by the police. Moreover, The chief executives is still pushing the extradition bill by all means! Please pray for HK! @CardJosephZen @VaticanNews https://t.co/qK0wu2Php3
— Joseph Zen (@CardJosephZen) June 14, 2019
Zen has also stated that if the Legislative Council passes a proposal in 2005 to promote the creation of incorporated management committees in schools, he will take the matter to court.
Many people look up to him since he has already aided them much. He led the Diocese in expressing doubts after becoming Bishop of Hong Kong on September 23, 2002. It was about proposed anti-subversion legislation mandated by Article 23 of the Basic Law.
Cardinal Joseph Zen Fraud Allegations: Are They True?
Cardinal Joseph Zen’s claims are unclear whether they are real or not, as he has not yet been found guilty of the charge against him. However, he has been accused of exploiting his clerical standing to participate in anti-China activities by a Beijing tabloid in Hong Kong.
Just unbelievably heartbreaking ? https://t.co/TAtfaEf6CG
— Benedict Rogers 羅傑斯 (@benedictrogers) May 11, 2022
Ta Kung Pao, a Chinese-language daily run by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), published four pieces specifically targeting Cardinal Zen, who is 90 years old, and the Hong Kong Church. Cardinal Zen, they claimed, has a “long history of abusing his clergy status to engage in anti-China activities and stir up havoc in Hong Kong.”
In 2019, he allegedly incited pupils to break government restrictions.