Hong Kong Christians Cower As Fear Of CCP Intensifies
(AmericanProsperity.com) – Catholicism is one of the largest religions in the world. Its influence stretches far and wide across the globe, even in Communist China. Despite the amount of influence the church possesses, the Catholic Diocese of Hong Kong decided not to hold an annual memorial service, citing violence in the country.
Canceling Tradition
The South China Morning Post reported the Hong Kong diocese has canceled a memorial service for the Tiananmen Square Massacre for the first time, breaking an over 30-year tradition. The Catholic church gathers to pray and remember events that took place on June 4, 1989. Fox News mentioned the diocese’s decision to not hold memorial services came after Chinese Communist Party (CCP) authorities arrested one of its most notable clergymen, Cardinal Joseph Zen.
The diocese added the Catholic faith allows them to remember the victims in different ways, admitting that holding mass would be one way before adding that praying in small groups or privately would be just as meaningful.
June 4, 1989
For people who don’t know what the long-standing tradition memorializes, residents come together to remember the victims of the Tiananmen Square Massacre. The tragedy unfolded when members of China’s military, the People’s Liberation Army, opened fire on a group of pro-democracy protestors.
The student-led group was in Tiananmen Square when the Chinese government sent forces to crack down on the protest, leaving hundreds and potentially even thousands dead. Since that day, people have gathered to offer thoughts and prayers, which the Hong Kong diocese often led.
Chinese Catholicism
While the CCP does allow Catholics to practice their faith within its borders, it’s not the way the church would like. Instead, China forces the church to instill ideals that go against their own and make them spread propaganda within their teachings. As China has begun cracking down on religions in its country, it has forced the Catholic church in China to essentially split in two — with one side being the CCP-approved establishment and the other being an “underground” congregation which Chinese authorities consider illegal.
According to the Fox News report, the CCP has stifled protestors against communism in Hong Kong through government-sanctioned arrests and violence. In addition, the CCP has also started to shut down memorials and gatherings that honor the June 4, 1989 massacre. In reality it seems as though the diocese of Hong Kong canceled their memorial service in an effort simply to keep its members safe from the extremism of the CCP.
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