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- Jul 16, 2012
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This reminds me of Archbishop Nicholas Chia’s LetterGate. Wonder why Georgie didn’t say anything then?
Concerned like the Archbishop about how the Govt might make life difficult for the Church if a heavyweight like him started to exercise his freedom of speech or “meddle”? Concerned about how his own role in the detention of the “Marxist Conspirators” will be put in the spotlight?
Below is an extract from Sammyboy and Yawning Bread:
Being a Bishop in Singapore is not the same as being a Bishop in Hong Kong
I originally intended to end my article with a suggestion to His Grace, Archbishop Nicholas Chia, to take a leaf out of the books of Cardinal John Tong and his predecessor Cardinal Joseph Zen and stand up to the Powers That Be in Singapore. However, upon reflection, I decided otherwise.
Could the Government have threatened to detain the Bishop personally under the ISA? Not likely as this might lead to a diplomatic crisis as the Vatican is a sovereign state in itself with observer status in the United Nations. Could it have threatened to detain the members of Function 8 under the ISA? In this political environment? When every few days one Ministry or another has to issue press releases to clarify this or that? Not likely. Close down all its places of worship? Unthinkable. Like cutting off the nose to spite the face.
It is not inconceivable, however, that the Government may have threatened to withdraw its support for the Church’s charitable and social activities or at least to impose onerous “conditions”. The Church sponsors many schools. These receive subsidies from the public purse and curricula are subject to Government scrutiny. The Church also cares for the aged, sick and destitute through its various charities. And last but not least, the State has the power to compulsorily acquire land and “compensate” the owner at less than current market value. Who suffers the most if indeed the State’s powers are abused in this manner? Not the Bishop personally, but the aged, sick, destitute. Your children who may not be able to find a place in a Catholic school.
Can the Hong Kong Government not threaten to pull these levers as well? Yes it can, but it will have tens if not hundreds of thousands of vociferous but otherwise peaceful protestors on the streets the every next day! And they will not go away until their demands are met! Cardinals John Tong and Joseph Zen dared to do what they did for they knew that Hong Kong people are no pushovers and more importantly will not reverse at the slightest sign of danger. Did Lim Chin Siong not told a massive audience : “Saya masuk first gear, lu jangan gostan”?
http://yawningbread.wordpress.com/2012/10/02/two-dioceses-two-peoples/
http://sammyboy.com/showthread.php?...ioceses-amp-Two-Peoples&p=1282626#post1282626
Concerned like the Archbishop about how the Govt might make life difficult for the Church if a heavyweight like him started to exercise his freedom of speech or “meddle”? Concerned about how his own role in the detention of the “Marxist Conspirators” will be put in the spotlight?
Below is an extract from Sammyboy and Yawning Bread:
Being a Bishop in Singapore is not the same as being a Bishop in Hong Kong
I originally intended to end my article with a suggestion to His Grace, Archbishop Nicholas Chia, to take a leaf out of the books of Cardinal John Tong and his predecessor Cardinal Joseph Zen and stand up to the Powers That Be in Singapore. However, upon reflection, I decided otherwise.
Could the Government have threatened to detain the Bishop personally under the ISA? Not likely as this might lead to a diplomatic crisis as the Vatican is a sovereign state in itself with observer status in the United Nations. Could it have threatened to detain the members of Function 8 under the ISA? In this political environment? When every few days one Ministry or another has to issue press releases to clarify this or that? Not likely. Close down all its places of worship? Unthinkable. Like cutting off the nose to spite the face.
It is not inconceivable, however, that the Government may have threatened to withdraw its support for the Church’s charitable and social activities or at least to impose onerous “conditions”. The Church sponsors many schools. These receive subsidies from the public purse and curricula are subject to Government scrutiny. The Church also cares for the aged, sick and destitute through its various charities. And last but not least, the State has the power to compulsorily acquire land and “compensate” the owner at less than current market value. Who suffers the most if indeed the State’s powers are abused in this manner? Not the Bishop personally, but the aged, sick, destitute. Your children who may not be able to find a place in a Catholic school.
Can the Hong Kong Government not threaten to pull these levers as well? Yes it can, but it will have tens if not hundreds of thousands of vociferous but otherwise peaceful protestors on the streets the every next day! And they will not go away until their demands are met! Cardinals John Tong and Joseph Zen dared to do what they did for they knew that Hong Kong people are no pushovers and more importantly will not reverse at the slightest sign of danger. Did Lim Chin Siong not told a massive audience : “Saya masuk first gear, lu jangan gostan”?
http://yawningbread.wordpress.com/2012/10/02/two-dioceses-two-peoples/
http://sammyboy.com/showthread.php?...ioceses-amp-Two-Peoples&p=1282626#post1282626
