Free Jimmy Lai

Jimmy Lai has been convicted in a sham trial, as expected, for telling the truth. His daughter, Claire, is continuing to plead with the U.S. to make sure her father does not die a martyr for freedom.

This needs to be reiterated to the Trump administration until he is released.

The president did comment yesterday that Lai should be freed.

As did Marco Rubio.

At the same time, I do wonder if any of those Vatican compromises over the years to China might be worth anything. Gaining the release of this faithful convert would be something.

The amazing Cardinal Zen — who has had his share of persecution from Hong Kong and China — was in the courtroom yesterday to support Jimmy and his family.

This remarkably beautiful letter from Natan Sharansky, who spent nine years in Soviet prison camps, has written to Jimmy Lai and shared with the world about this courageous man and the freedom no tyrannical regime can touch:

This regime, these dictators in China and Hong Kong, want you to suffer every day. And every day they want you to be tempted to ask for mercy, to give up, but I know that you will continue to be a proud, free person. And every day of your freedom — your inner freedom — will be another day of your victory. And I’m sure you feel it.

These dictators think that you are facing a life sentence. In fact, they are the ones who will be living as slaves all their lives. One day, the people of Hong Kong, whom you love so much, will be free, and you will forever stay with them.

I’m very proud to be your friend, Jimmy. I love you. Bless you and your family. Be strong.

Uniting his suffering to the Passion of Christ — as Claire has talked about — Jimmy Lai shows us real Christianity. In fighting for freedom — while remaining interiorly free — he shows us why we protect freedom: We are called to be stewards of this precious gift from God.