A group of Hong Kong Catholics have dropped a planned fundraising campaign to buy advertising space in a local newspaper, after pressure from church leaders concerned about the wording of the prayer.
The Justice and Peace commission of the Archdiocese of Hong Kong said that diocesan leadership had asked the 18-strong body to drop their planned campaign this weekend. The crowdfunding initiative would have raised money for advertising space in a local newspaper, featuring a prayer for democracy in light of the new national security law.
“As the city of Hong Kong is under threats of abusive control,” the prayer reads, “we pray for your mercy. Amongst adversaries and oppression, we believe your Word and Grace shall bring back the confidence and hope of your people.”
Asking God to “deliver your people from oppression and slavery”, the prayer is clearly referencing the new national security law, introduced 30 June this year, that prohibits in broad terms acts of “secession”, “subversion”, or “terrorism”.
Cardinal Charles Maung Bo, president of the Federation of Asian Bishops’ Conferences, voicing his fears over religious freedom in Hong Kong, had previously asked Christians to pray in response to the new law - which the Justice and Peace activists say inspired them to start their initiative. The commission intended to run the prayer in the September 6 edition of the Hong Kong Chinese-language newspaper, Apple Daily, generally considered to be supportive of the democratic opposition.
On Saturday 29 August, however, the Justice and Peace group posted a statement to facebook informing supporters that Diocesan leaders had requested they drop their campaign over concerns over the fundraising method and the content of the prayer.
According to local media, many institutions in Hong Kong have “self-censored” in order to avoid potential prosecution under the national security law, which could rule out crowdfunding campaigns under broadly worded offences relating to collusion with overseas interests.
The security law has drawn a mix of responses from Catholic leaders in Hong Kong. The diocese's apostolic administrator, Cardinal John Tong Hon, claimed in late June that the laws would have no effect on religious freedom. The Bishop emeritus of Hong Kong, Cardinal Joseph Zen, has, however, criticised the law and even stated that he would be willing to be arrested under it. “If right and proper words were considered against their law,” Zen said, “I will endure all the suing, trials and arrests.”
Loading ...
