基督徒, 尖沙嘴, 天主教, 香港, 工程

沙文

【本報訊】天主教香港教區主教湯漢樞機早前透過牧函，提示教徒月底區議會選舉投票時，要以候選人對家庭、婚姻及性傾向歧視條例的立場為重要指標。有基督徒區選候選人直言，對湯漢的言論感到奇怪和詫異，並帶有歧視。
去年雨傘運動後組成的基督徒社關團契有5名成員參選。循油尖旺尖沙嘴西出選的召集人劉志雄牧師稱，5人參選是有感建制派壟斷區會，令區會不能有效監察地方施政，加上多區都有大白象工程，冀為選民提供多一個選擇，以免建制派在無競爭下自動當選。

稱社會有更重要議題
對於湯漢提示教徒投票時考慮候選人就性傾向歧視條例等問題的立場，劉志雄指，選民對候選人就一些議題的立場有知情權，選民亦會按良心投票，認為市民的知情權越多越好。
循元朗區錦綉花園參選的杜嘉倫則反問「點解（湯漢）會拎一個群體出嚟講？」直指目前社會上還有很多重要議題，例如貧富懸殊、公共資源被壟斷等，「點解呢啲唔去處理？」批評湯的言論奇怪、令人詫異及帶有歧視。與劉志雄同區的候選人有孔昭華，與杜嘉倫同區的候選人則有梁煒堃及邱帶娣。
■記者呂浩然  
http://hk.apple.nextmedia.com/news/art/20151111/19368148

沙文

SCMP

Hong Kong's Catholic Church leaders linking gay rights with drug abuse is just plain wrong

The Catholic Church's opposition to same-sex marriage is to be expected. But it nonetheless raised eyebrows when the church went a step further by urging voters in the district council polls to take candidates' position on gay rights into account.

The church would speak up against homosexual behaviour just as it would against drug abuse, a top bishop said.
The remarks, which came as the city's gay pride parade drew a record turnout of 10,000 people at the weekend, fuelled backlash from gay rights activists.

The head of the Equal Opportunities Commission, the city's anti-discrimination watchdog, also expressed concerns that politics was mixing with religious beliefs.

The Hong Kong Catholic Diocese is known for being vocal on issues like democracy and social justice. Its position on gay marriage was reiterated in a pastoral letter from Cardinal John Tong Hon, who said the city's core values on marriage and family were being challenged by sexual liberation and gay rights movements.
The remarks raised question about whether the local church was taking a harsher line than Pope Francis, who has struck a more conciliatory tone on gay issues.

The reference to drug abuse by auxiliary Bishop Michael Yeung Ming-cheung was probably just an example to illustrate the church's position on homosexuality. Abusing drugs was wrong, he said, but the church still cared about drug addicts. But the church's position could be misunderstood as denigrating homosexuals by linking them to drug abusers.

The cardinal's appeal to followers to take into account candidates' position on gay rights is unprecedented in Hong Kong. Like other social groups, the church is entitled to defend its beliefs. But it should be noted that most district council aspirants do not make clear their stance on gay rights.

The issue arguably becomes even less relevant as the district councils have no power to legislate. Whether a candidate's position on gay issues should be taken into account is ultimately for voters to decide.
http://www.scmp.com/comment/insight-opinion/article/1877566/hong-kongs-catholic-church-leaders-linking-gay-rights-drug