Catholics in China have long been persecuted by the Marxist atheist government for practising their faith. They have responded with dignity and determination. But their situation – particularly recently when the cross has been ripped from their Churches by the authorities – is a continuing denial of the human right to religious faith and its practice.
Under the Treaty which managed the return of Hong Kong to Chinese rule in 1997, the people of Hong Kong retain many more human rights than on the Chinese mainland. This is the celebrated special administrative region with ‘one country, two systems.’ Recently the Hong Kong government has attempted to modify the Treaty provisions to limit the rights of the inhabitants. This has led to violent demonstrations in defence of rights solemnly guaranteed by the Chinese government. The response of the government has been to threaten to impose these restrictions by decree instead of by the Hong Kong legislative process. Where then is HSBC in this? Our high street bank HSBC is in full the Hong Kong and Shanghai Banking Corporation. It started life there in the mid-19th century, and came to the UK most obviously by taking over the former Midland Bank. It still does a lot of business in the areas where it started. HSBC is on public record as approving the measures proposed by the Chinese government. This is widely seen by commentators as dictated by concern for its commercial interests. Why is this of concern to Catholics? Because the Catholic Church takes human dignity, human freedom and human rights very seriously indeed. Any attempt to remove human rights to freedom of conscience, of religious faith, and to those political and legal rights which are commonly seen as fundamental in modern societies is wrong politically, morally and religiously. So The Catechism of the Catholic Church teaches: ‘By virtue of his soul and his spiritual powers of intellect and will, man (NB: this is quoting a 1960s document where man is inclusive of all human beings) is endowed with freedom.’ (Catechism 1700) This is further explained, ‘Freedom is the power, rooted in reason and will, to act or not to act, to do this or do that, and so perform deliberate actions on one’s own responsibility. …Freedom makes man responsible for his acts to the extent they are voluntary. … Freedom is exercised in relationships between human beings. Every human person, created in the image of God, has the natural right to be recognized as a free and responsible being. All owe each other this duty of respect. The right to the exercise of freedom, especially in its moral and religious matters, is an inalienable requirement of the dignity of the human person. This right must be recognized and protected by civil authority within the limits of the common good and public order.’ (Catechism 1731-1738: italics in the original) HSBC’s current public position is clearly contrary to Catholic teachings and perspectives. Of course HSBC is entitled to protect and further what it sees as the interests of its business and shareholders. Equally Catholics are entitled not to deal with a bank whose attitude is so profoundly opposed to Catholic truth. Catholics should withdraw their business from an institution determined to prefer profit to moral principle.
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