to me he's not a retard, but a wolf hidden under the sheepskin's (religious) disguise.
Since he's mostly being paid for/supported by the religious organisation itself, he obviously has to support/pro-his-religion in order to make a living for himself.
Whether or not he's pro mainland govt is not what I subjectively cared about. It's the "organised" religion that really comes into play...and he played it real well.