Hong Kong religious leaders use Christmas messages to urge end to city’s political conflicts
Cardinal John Tong and Archbishop Paul Kwong appeal to followers for more unity following a fractious year
An end to the city’s political conflicts and divisions was the shared call of the city’s Roman Catholic bishop and Anglican archbishop in their Christmas messages this year.
Cardinal John Tong Hon, leader of the city’s 379,000 Catholics, also reiterated the importance of family values, a month after he was criticised for urging his flock to consider candidates’ views on gay rights ahead of district council elections
Released this morning, Tong’s message stated: “Hong Kong, our home, has been unsettled for the past few years ... We have also come across core values such as the family being challenged.
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“Jesus Christ chose to come into our world, to be with us, through a family,” the cardinal continued. “So we can see that the family is very important ... in the formation of our society. Without the family, our society will fall apart. Hence, we must treasure our family and beware of any possibilities endangering the family.”
Tong urged Catholics to tend better to their families. “Apart from sending text messages by social media, greet one another with a smile, talk to others and give one another a hug,” he added.
The Most Reverend Paul Kwong, archbishop of the Hong Kong Anglican Church, did not address family values in particular in his annual message, but recalled the city’s political divisions of the past year.
“Our city has been divided and fragmented after the Occupy movement and the dispute over political reform last year,” read Kwong’s statement, which was dated as issued on Sunday.