Well this is dreadful:
.- The leader of the Diocese of Hong Kong has instructed priests to avoid politics in homilies and admonishing them for “offensive” and “provocative” preaching. The warning comes amid a crackdown on free expression in Hong Kong, after the implementation of the new National Security Law in July.
A letter, obtained by CNA, was sent from Cardinal John Tong Hon, the former Bishop of Hong Kong and current administrator of the diocese on Friday.
“The homily is not meant to convey the preacher’s personal views (such as his own view on a social or political issue) but God’s message,” the cardinal wrote.
“Our homilies must not lose touch with our daily life and the concrete situation of society. A reference to or brief analysis of current social issues would often be helpful and sometimes even necessary for a homily” with the aim of “encouraging the faithful… to bear Christian witness in social life and in social transformation,” he added.
“However, slandering and offensive expressions insinuating or instigating hatred and social disorder are unchristian and inappropriate for the liturgy.”
While the letter does not explicitly reference the ongoing political situation, the cardinal warned that priests and deacons “should be well aware that our faithful are all the time listening to what we say and watching what we do.”
“Therefore, we have to be prudent and attentive to what we say in our homilies, sermons and speeches.”
Cardinal Tong has previously spoken in support of the National Security Law, which came into force July 1.
The cardinal insisted the law would have “no effect” on the local Church’s religious freedom. Since the law came into force, Catholic journalists, political activists, and businessmen have been arrested on charges of sedition.
Go here to read the rest. This is a betrayal of the many faithful Catholics who have suffered for the Faith in China. Of course the betrayal of the faithful in China is Vatican policy, so perhaps it is unfair to blame the Cardinal who is the man on the spot. Instead of saying Xi Jinping’s Cardinal it is probably better to refer to Xi Jinping’s Pope.
One would think the same Vatican II type direction has been given many years ago to our own Bishops and pastors as evidenced by their avoidance of hard hitting commentary on all the evil in our society and in the Church itself.
The Marxist political line, Social Justice, we often hear in homilies would please the Chinese Communist Party for sure.
A couple of proverbs leap to mind:
“The fish rots from the head.”
“No enemies to the left.”