Hong Kong: Catholics Concerned About Threats to Marriage

Father Lawrence Lee Len, chancellor of Hong Kong diocese,expressed concern for undermining of the family.

HONG KONG (UCAN) - Catholics at a public hearing on a proposed amendment to the domestic violence law voiced concern that the amendment could undermine the traditional concept of "family" and pave the way for same-sex marriage.

Hong Kong's Legislative Council (LegCo) held a special meeting on Jan. 10 to hear the views of 63 civic, education and religious groups after a debate erupted in the wake of the proposed amendment to the law.

The Domestic Violence Ordinance, enacted in 1986, covers married couples and heterosexual cohabitants. Last August, an amendment extended its coverage to former spouses and heterosexual cohabitants, as well as immediate and extended family members. Another amendment now under discussion would extend the same protection to same-sex couples.

While groups at the hearing favored protecting all people from domestic violence, two-thirds said they worry one result may be demands for a judicial review on the legalization of homosexuality. Homosexual acts are not criminal offenses in Hong Kong, but neither are they legalized.

Most hearing participants who opposed the amendment are Christians, educationists, women and social groups. They said they object to using the words "family violence" in the bill's Chinese text since they do not regard same-sex couples as fitting the traditional definition of family. They instead suggested using "household violence" or "home violence."

Michael Tse of the local Church's Diocesan Pastoral Commission for Marriage and the Family (DPCMF) told the hearing that society has not arrived at a consensus on issues on homosexuality.

He said the local government seems to be "taking a hasty action in favor of homosexuality" in trying to extend the domestic violence law to cover same-sex couples. He suggested a separate ordinance for same-sex couples.

Michael Cheung, an initiator of Catholic-run Chastity Youth Network, told the hearing his group "has reason to worry" the bill may pave the way for legal acceptance of same-sex marriages, as happened in other countries.

He asked if the local government can guarantee that gay activists would not demand a judicial review to change the existing laws on marriage.

Father Lawrence Lee Len, chancellor of Hong Kong diocese, told participants that the Catholic diocese would accept the bill only if it does not result in undermining the traditional definition of the family.

However, not all religious groups at the hearing opposed the bill.

Wong Mei-fung, an officer of the Hong Kong Christian Institute, a Protestant organization, said her organization is in favor of the bill because it is based on human rights. Such rights, she asserted, should extend beyond the traditional concept of marriage.

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Matthew Cheung Kin-chung, Hong Kong's secretary of labor and welfare, reiterated at the meeting that the government has no intention to change the traditional definition of the family.

Meantime, other Catholics voiced their own concerns to UCA News, not only about the bill but also the present ordinance. Holly Mok, a DPCMF member and executive secretary of the Diocesan Youth Commission, told UCA News the ordinance's inclusion of heterosexual cohabitants was "a historical error."

She said she believes the Church now must not only address the issue of same-sex cohabitation but also give society a clear definition of the family. Including heterosexual cohabitants under the present law, she said, could lead to misunderstanding the nature of the family.

Father Lee told UCA News the Church opposes cohabitation, but it would be difficult to change the current law since already covers the issue. Though he admits the Church did not pay much attention to the ordinance when it was passed, he said this does not mean the Church agrees with it.

Kevin Lai Yuk-ching, DPCMF's executive secretary, told UCA News his organization plans to issue a public statement on the bill in a local newspaper and it would be accompanied by signatures his group has collected.

Father Lee said the diocese plans to form a Family Development Network with the Protestant Church to follow up on the issue.

LegCo has scheduled a follow-up hearing on Jan. 23.

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Republished by Catholic Online with permission of the Union of Catholic Asian News (UCA News), the world's largest Asian church news agency (www.ucanews.com).