“EVERYONE HAS THE right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion; this right includes freedom to change his religion or belief, and freedom, either alone or in community with others and in public or private, to manifest his religion or belief in teaching, practice, worship and observance,” Article 18 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights says.

In mid-September the South China Morning Post ran a story entitled the Silver Tsunami, which looked at worrying statistics of aging that will place extremely severe pressures on medical and social services in Hong Kong.

The celebration of the Jubilee of Mercy draws to a close in two months’ time. However, the celebratory spirit of the universal Church is not winding down. This Sunday has been designated as the Year of Mercy Jubilee for Catechists. The Diocesan Ad Hoc Committee for the Jubilee of Mercy has invited catechists to celebrate together and reflect on this special day for which we all have much to be thankful.

Mother Teresa of Kolkata is scheduled to be canonised in Rome on September 4, which will give the liturgical calendar three saints with similar names, the others being two Carmelites, St. Teresa of Ávila, later declared a doctor of the Church, and St. Thérèse of Lisieux.

Those who died in recent terrorist attacks in France have been mourned the world over and the execution of a French priest while celebrating Mass has brought widespread questioning and wonder from many quarters.

Two issues that Pope Francis has prioritised in his papacy are climate change and the sustainability of the global economy. In fact, he sees the two as being so intricately linked as to be inseparable. This is illustrated in his encyclical, Praise Be: On care for our common home (Laudato Si’).

In a message to the diocese published on July 31, the bishop of Hong Kong, John Cardinal Tong Hon, said that the social teaching of the Church in recent years has given much importance to the active participation of the laity in public life.

The 31st World Youth Day is being held during the Jubilee of Mercy. It is taking place in Poland, the home of Pope John Paul II, the founder of the international Catholic festival.

This Sunday the closing Mass of the international Catholic gathering is being celebrated by Pope Francis, who is inviting people to renew the promises of their baptism and don a white robe on which is written the date of their baptism.

During this year’s Book Fair, the local diocese will host a display zone under the theme The 175th Anniversary of the Evangelisation of Hong Kong—170th Anniversary of the Catholic Diocese of Hong Kong.

No one would disagree that moral issues have become a great tension between the Church and the secular world. Controversial issues ranging from divorce to abortion, from anti-discrimination laws to same-sex marriage have left many Catholics perplexed and those who uphold the Church teaching wearied.