Democracy protests win church support

As tens of thousands of protesters brought Hong Kong business districts to a halt this week, Christian voices were prominent among those demanding democracy in the territory.

Protesters called for Hong Kong chief executive C.Y. Leung to step down, after tear-gas and truncheon charges were used last weekend against peaceful demonstrators. The demonstrators’ central demand is that Beijing rescind last month’s decision to vet candidates standing for election to the territory’s top post in 2017. The protesters insist that Beijing is reneging on its promise to allow Hong Kong universal suffrage, and the unrest is the worst Hong Kong has seen since the handover from Britain in 1997.

Cardinal Joseph Zen Ze-kiun, the emeritus bishop of Hong Kong who is well-known for his outspokenness on political and religious liberty, addressed protesters – known as Occupy Central – in the central financial district of Hong Kong and led a prayer service. “Beijing does not allow civil nomination because they fear us,” he said; “they do not trust in us, thinking that we will intentionally choose a leader who will confront them”. Protestants and Catholics are among the key players in the Occupy Central movement. Along with Cardinal Zen, they have regularly been branded the “troublesome gangsters of Hong Kong” in pro-Beijing newspapers in the territory. Although Protestants and Catholics make up just 7 per cent and 5 per cent respectively of the population, Christians fear the influence of Beijing on religious freedom.

Cardinal John Tong Hon, Bishop of Hong Kong, urged calm, but discreetly urged politicians “to listen to the younger generation and to citizens from all walks of life” and “exercise restraint in the deployment of force”. In July 2013 the Catholic Diocese of Hong Kong issued a statement urging that “the chief executive shall be directly elected by universal suffrage in 2017 – on a one person, one vote basis”. This is the main demand of the protesters.

Earlier this week the Hong Kong Federation of Catholic Students criticised the police’s excessive use of violence when dispersing “unarmed students”. Many Catholic students boycotted classes for the protests, with the support of their Catholic schools, provided parents approved. Monday evening saw a large group of Christian protesters gather centrally under a large white cross, praying and singing.

In advance of the national ­holiday on 1 October, marking the 65th anniversary of the People’s Republic of China, Mr Leung called for the protests to end, but signs were they would expand. Beijing called them “illegal activities that undermine the rule of law and social harmony”, and warned foreign powers China will not tolerate outside interference.