Church Aids China After Quake

Cardinal Zen Notes Importance of Long-term Plan and expressed his sorrow at "the loss of so many human lives."

MILAN, Italy (Zenit) - As the Church in China moves to help the victims of Monday's earthquake, Hong Kong's bishop says a key to disaster relief is a long-term plan.

Cardinal Joseph Zen is in Italy, where he spoke with the press about the 7.9 quake that rocked the southwestern province of Sichuan. Confirmed deaths are already well over 12,000 but thousands more are buried under rubble.

Cardinal Zen expressed his sorrow at "the loss of so many human lives." And he added, "In Hong Kong, we will do what we always do in these situations: put ourselves in motion to offer immediate help to the affected population and spread the call to the Catholic community to collect emergency aid."

"This aid we will then send to China through Caritas and the Red Cross. It must be foreseen, as well, long-term assistance for reconstruction," the cardinal continued. "What's important, when these kinds of calamities happen, is to not forget them too quickly, since a long time is needed before the people who live in these regions can go back to normal."

Cardinal Zen presided today over a prayer vigil for China and the Church in that country, in Milan's St. Stephen church.

The Fides news agency reported that 40 churches in the Diocese of Cheng Du were damaged or destroyed by the earthquake. In the Diocese of Chong Qing, another 10 suffered serious damage. Three more were destroyed in the Diocese of Nan Chong. There is still no report from the dioceses closest to the epicenter, as communication lines still have not been repaired.