Catholics in Hong Kong have held an outdoor Way of the Cross during
which they demanded the release of detained clergy and freedom of
religion in mainland China.
“We hope that our Catholics could share their suffering through this
event,” said Lina Chan Lai-na, executive secretary of the Hong Kong
diocese´s Justice and Peace Commission (JPC) and one of the event
organizers.
“Hong Kong people should cherish the freedom we have and
speak out for the mainlanders.”
Some 100 Catholics participated in the activity, including members of
two parish social
concern groups and the Secular Franciscan Order.
They stopped at seven symbolic places, such as the High Court,
relating landmarks to Jesus’ suffering and reflecting the current
situation of the China Church.
“I am moved by the concern of Hong Kong Catholics… I don’t feel that I
can work freely,” said a mainland priest who requested anonymity.
Participants also prayed for clergy who died in prison and those in
detention, including Bishops Cosmas Shi Enxiang of Yixian and Su Zhimin
(Zhemin) of Baoding.
“A lot of people are still under surveillance or have disappeared. We
who are lucky to live our faith peacefully have the responsibility to
remember them,” said Cardinal Joseph Zen Ze-kiun, retired bishop of Hong
Kong during the evening prayer following the Way of the Cross.
He criticized China’s government as “a system that forced people to
lie” while he praised Nobel Peace Prize winner Liu Xiaobo’s efforts to
speak out.
SIC: CTH/INDIA