ASIA/HONG KONG - Renewing our commitment to respond adequately to society: the duty of every Christian during and after the Year of the Laity

Hong Kong (Agenzia Fides) - Focus on mission in society to defend the core values: a commitment of every Christian, not only for the Year of the Laity. This is the belief of the participants at the Seminar for the Year of the Laity, held in the diocese of Hong Kong on August 28, on the theme "Getting to know the society of the Diocese of Hong Kong." According to what was reported by the Kong Ko Bao (the Chinese version of the diocesan bulletin) during the Seminar Fr. Chan, OFM, noted that "for 150 years, the local Church has always played a prophetic role in the society of Hong Kong responding to the needs of the times, such as service to the needy. But today there are major differences between social needs and the commitment of the Church, that feels inadequate to respond. So it is not enough to rely on our 150 years of history, we must react by renewing our commitment to provide a truly adequate response to society." For some participants, "in the face of a society such as Hong Kong, the Christians and the Church have the duty to participate in the reconstruction of the core values of society along with the entire population. And for this purpose we can find help in the Social Doctrine of the Church. "Finally Mgr. Dominic Chan, as the President of the Commission for the Year of the Laity has encouraged the faithful to participate actively in social life preparing for the Congress on the role of the laity. (NZ) (Agenzia Fides 12/09/2012)