On the whole, Hong Kong's clergy do not meddle too much in politics. That is probably just as well because our top officials and lawmakers are capable of getting into enough strife without help from troublesome priests. An exception was the former head of the Catholic Church in Hong Kong, Cardinal Joseph Zen Ze-kiun, who could be outspoken in his support for universal suffrage, and, it must be said, enjoyed considerable support from the pro-democracy camp.
His successor, Bishop John Tong Hon, strikes a milder tone. That reflects a difference in style that Beijing for one is more comfortable with. On Sunday for example, when asked about the latest proposals on constitutional reform to be unveiled this month, Tong said only that he hoped Chief Executive Donald Tsang Yam-kuen would listen to citizens' wishes and do what he could. In the same vein, Tong urged Tsang, a devout Catholic, to communicate more with people who hold different or opposite opinions 'the way religious people solve problems' - a reference to the chief executive's recent combative response to allegations of favouritism to relatives.
At first sight that is the kind of advice he might give any follower of the faith - in essence to turn the other cheek. But sometimes there is more than meets the eye in a change of tone from church leaders. In this case, Tong's rare departure from his habit of not commenting on politics underlined it. It reflects concern about Tsang's dismissive, confrontational response to criticism or opposition. On the face of it, Tong is not unqualified to give political advice, having achieved progress in relations between the local church and Beijing, which he has summed up with the political truism: 'It takes two to tango.'
There is no reason to doubt Tsang was genuinely affronted by allegations that he had favoured an in-law's light-bulb business with his plan to encourage the use of energy-saving bulbs, and had influenced his sister-in-law's compensation case over her investment in failed Lehman Brothers minibonds. But shooting the messenger - in this case the media - glosses over the failures of his political minders and political antennae to alert him to danger.
Tong said on Sunday he would pray for Tsang. The short sermon that followed left no doubt that he was praying for the chief executive to change his style. We trust the bishop's prayers will be answered.