In an echo of Pope Francis’ softening stance towards Beijing a senior Kong Kong Christian has urged the church in Hong Kong to work with the Chinese authorities towards “reconciliation and peace”.
In an interview with the South China Morning Post, Rev Eric So Shing-yit the chairman of the Hong Kong’s Christian Council said: "In the past, I've heard relatively more often that churches should be like a prophet... speaking up on social issues, criticising unfair systems, autocracies and suppression. But is that all we should do?
“Sometimes if we overdo something and produce negative effects, it will further divide people and [intensify] confrontations,” he said.
Yesterday Pope Francis, in an interview with Asia Times, praised China for relaxing its one-child policy and insisted that it was important for the Catholic church to enter into a dialogue with the communist state.
The western world, the eastern world and China all have the capacity to maintain the balance of peace and the strength to do so. We must find the way, always through dialogue; there is no other way.”
Rev So said though that he continued to be concerned that any continuing discussion over religious freedom could yet become another source of conflict.
“People could question why we enjoy the privilege of being exempted and whether it was unfair,” the pastor said. “This could [again] intensify confrontations.”
The subject of religious freedom is a live one in Hong Kong which has managed to hold on to a small amount of autonomy from Beijing since the handover of power from Britain in 1997.
Last year, Christians were prime movers in the free democracy demonstrations when about 100,000 were involved in 79 days of street protests in the territory over the communist party’s interference in local politics.
The Hong Kong Christian Council is a Christian ecumenical organisation founded in 1954 that represents 22 Christian denominations and societies.
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