Hong Kong’s Catholics Cancel Prayer for Fear of Offending China

Acton Institute ^ | 9/10/20 | Rev. Ben Johnson

[marshmallow]

China’s draconian “national security law” has not just stifled the free speech of pro-democracy politicians, teachers, and journalists, it has now shut down a prayer campaign called by Roman Catholic hierarchy. Catholic bishops in Hong Kong canceled publication of a prayer for fear of offending officials in the Chinese Communist Party.

This summer, the Federation of Asian Bishops’ Conferences asked its members to pray for the increasingly oppressive situation in Hong Kong. China’s violation of the “one country, two systems” framework comes as “freedom of religion or belief in mainland China is suffering the most severe restrictions experienced since the Cultural Revolution,” wrote Cardinal Charles Maung Bo of Myanmar, the conference’s president. He offered a litany of problems with the new legislation, which UN observers have since described as overly vague:

I am concerned that the law poses a threat to basic freedoms and human rights in Hong Kong. This legislation potentially undermines freedom of expression, freedom of assembly, media freedom and academic freedom. Arguably, freedom of religion or belief is put at risk. … Even if freedom of worship in Hong Kong is not directly or immediately affected, the new security law and its broad criminalization of “subversion”, “secession” and “colluding with foreign political forces” could result, for example, in the monitoring of religious preaching, the criminalization of candlelit prayer vigils, and the harassment of places of worship that offer sanctuary or sustenance to protesters.

As it turns out, Bo knows Beijing. Through fear and intimidation, the law has triggered an act of self-censorship.

In response to Cardinal Bo’s call to prayer, the Hong Kong diocese’s Justice and Peace Commission planned to buy an advertisement in Jimmy Lai’s newspaper, Apple Daily, on Sunday, September 6. It would contain the following prayer:

Lord, You reward Your faithful servants with.......

[gibsonguy]

I look back in awe when I think of the Christin Martyrs

[ConservativeMind]

Not possible.

The Pope said Chinese Catholics were safe. He stands with the Communist Chinese as does the worldwide Catholic Church.

[DIRTYSECRET]

Christian martyrs/ Let’s just say it takes a worried man to sing a worried song.

[Maudeen]

Stories/movies of yesteryear’s martyrs are chilling. What saints! Christian Martyrs are everywhere today. Not only adults but children are being persecuted physically and mentally. Most Americans don’t have a clue. . .too many don’t care at all.

[mosesdapoet]

What’ the Vatican response has been to this
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/3787834/posts
and this;
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/3787853/posts
and this
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/3787838/posts
should be met with crys of ENOUGH !!! Pope’s gotta go

Let US pray that misguided; immigration, Islam, and climate bridge builder Pope Francis gets a Colonel Boggie moment ( the lead character in the movie Bridge On The River Qwai played by Alex Guinness) and does a mea culpa and finally decides to question the results of what he’s done what he’s done and falls on the detonator which destroys the bridges he built) and resigns.