Bishop-elect Stephen Chow Sau-yan told journalists that he did not think it would be wise to comment on especially controversial issues, particularly on China, the day after his appointment.

"That would be rash," he said. "But it is not because I am afraid, but, I think, I believe that prudence is also a virtue."

During the 45-minute press conference, organized by the Diocese of Hong Kong, Chow responded to questions about religious freedom in Hong Kong.

This is at a time when the region is being tested after the passage of national security laws.

"For me, religious freedom is a basic right," Chow said.

He added that he believed Cardinal John Tong Hon, the diocese's apostolic administrator since January 2019, had encouraged the government not to forget the importance of allowing the practice of all faiths.

With "Beijing, I believe that we must also start also with a sense of - we don't assume they are enemies. So how can we, through our faith have some dialogue, have some understanding together," the bishop-elect said.

The people of Hong Kong have historically enjoyed freedom of worship and evangelization. While in mainland China there is a long history of persecution for Christians who run afoul of the government.

The Diocese of Hong Kong has been without a permanent bishop since January 2019. Since then, millions of people in Hong Kong, including many Catholics, participated in large-scale pro-democracy protests.

The Chinese government also gained the power to suppress the movement with the passage of national security laws.

When asked if he would publicly mark the June 4 anniversary of the 1989 Tiananmen Square protests, the bishop-elect said that this "depends on the legal requirements."

Chow said the church will adopt a position of "passive co-operation" in politics as the city grapples with the fall-out from months of protest and the imposition of a wide-ranging national security law by Beijing.

"I pray for China. I pray for all those who have passed in 1989."

Chow said he thought that "listening and empathy" was very important to heal the divisions within Hong Kong. He added that "unity is not the same as uniformity."

"I've just been appointed. I really have no grand plan of how to unify. But, I do believe there is a God, and God wants us to be united," he said.

Sources

Catholic News Agency

Hong Kong Free Press

America Magazine

Cardinal Tong sent his appeal in an open letter to local citizens last Friday. The Cardinal said he was deeply pained by the worsening situation in the city.

He acknowledges he is not a politician, and so declines to offer a solution to the crisis. But he does express his hope that God will help the people of Hong Kong to overcome "this period of repeated disorders".

"When our legitimate requests are not accepted, we may feel disappointed," Cardinal Tong said. But, he adds: "you must not lose hope, for despair blurs our gaze towards the future, draining our lives." Read more

Speaking at a conference entitled "Christianity in the Chinese Society: Impact, Interaction and Inculturation" in Rome late last week, Cardinal John Tong Hon said he supports the proposed agreement.

The agreement would see the Vatican propose a shortlist of candidates for a bishop's post.

The Patriotic Association, a body set up by the Chinese government to govern Catholic affairs, would select the bishops from the list.

While Hon's predecessor, Cardinal Joseph Zen, opposes the arrangement, Hon - who is Hong Kong's bishop emeritus - says he believes the Chinese government has generally become more tolerant.

In his opinion, an accord would help bring further openness and unity to the Church.

He told the "Christianity in the Chinese Society: Impact, Interaction and Inculturation" conference the agreement is "far-sighted".

He said at times, sacrifice is necessary in order for Catholics to become "members of one family."

The proposed agreement between China and the Vatican is intended to resolve long-standing tensions over the appointment of bishops.

The tensions have seen the Vatican insisting on the Pope's autonomy and Chinese authorities asserting the right to name bishops to protect against foreign influence.

If an agreement is signed, it would signal an easing of the difficulties between Rome and Beijing.

They severed diplomatic ties in 1951, although there have been intermittent attempts to rebuild relations between the two since the 1980s.

During the conference, Tong stressed that "dialogue is an indispensable feature of our modern world".

In his view, if Christianity and China "take a further step, we will find ourselves getting closer and closer to each other and becoming friends on the path to the truth."

"I've never seen a more serious attempt to enter into a dialogue and to continue the dialogue," said Missionhurst Father Jeroom Heyndrickx.

Heyndrickx is a member of the Vatican Commission on China, which has not met under Pope Francis.

He noted that the Vatican was not considering diplomatic ties, but only the appointment of bishops.

Hendrickx said Pope Francis restarted negotiations with China in 2014, and "it has been clear from the beginning … it was a serious attempt on both sides."

Source

• Catholic News Agency
• Crux Now
• Catholic Herald
• Image: South China Morning Post

Cardinal John Tong Hon of Hong Kong was not invited to participate in October's synod because he is older than 75, UCA News reported.

"Now I know that I am not going to the synod," the 76-year-old cardinal told ucanews.com in a late August interview.

The normal retirement age for bishops is 75.

The cardinal said he was told by a Vatican representative that the Vatican "does not want to make any exceptions" regarding age.

Cardinal Tong said he was unaware if another representative from Hong Kong was chosen in his place.

He knew only that he was "disqualified by age", he said, laughing.

"They will find somebody . . . if they need somebody," the cardinal said.

Pope Francis is 78 years old.

Synod participants in general are elected by local bishops' conferences.

Hong Kong, a former British colony and the largest Chinese diocese in the world with a Catholic population of 560,000, remains a mission area and does not have its own bishops' conference.

Some Hong Kong Catholics expressed disappointment that the diocese may not be represented at the synod.

"It is a pity that no one from Hong Kong is going," said Francis Law, a member of a Chinese Facebook page called "Catholic Parents".

Mr Law said Hong Kong Catholics could contribute to discussions at the synod, expressing concerns about recent developments on same-sex unions around the world, particularly in the United States.

"These kinds of voices needs to be brought to the synod," said Mr Law, who is a member of the Diocesan Youth Commission.

Cardinal Tong participated in last year's extraordinary family synod.

The cardinal said he agreed family and marriage are the most fundamental issues facing the Church and believes the synod fathers will find ways to resolve outstanding issues in line with the Pope's vision.

Sources

• UCA News
• National Catholic Reporter
• Catholic Hierarchy
• Image: South China Morning Post