A member of the Australian Tibetan community places a candle near a banner during a candlelight vigil for the Chinese Nobel Peace Prize-winning dissident Liu Xiaobo July 12 outside the Chinese consulate in Sydney. Liu, who was recently released from a prison in China's northeast, died July 13 at age 61.(CNS photo/Steven Saphore, Reuters)

Hong Kong Catholics pray for Nobel winner days before his death

555 0

HONG KONG (CNS) — Hong Kong Christians came together to pray for terminally ill Liu Xiaobo, less than a week before his death.

The 2010 Nobel Peace Prize winner, recently released from a prison in China’s northeast, died July 13. He was 61.

Cardinal Joseph Zen Ze-kiun, retired bishop of Hong Kong, and the Rev. Wu Chi-wai led a July 7 gathering for 300 Christians at St. Vincent’s Chapel to pray for Liu, who suffered from liver cancer.

Ucanews.com reported the prayer gathering was organized by two Catholic diocesan commissions and four Protestant groups. Organizers invited each attendee to write words of comfort on postcards to be sent to Liu and his wife Liu Xia, who has suffered from depression because she has been under house arrest since 2010.

On his postcard, Cardinal Zen told the couple that the hearts of all Catholics in Hong Kong were linked with them.

Liu Xiaobo is like the prophet Jeremiah, the cardinal said.

“You are like the sheep waiting to be killed. We have begged God’s justice for you,” wrote the 85-year-old cardinal.

“But your wisdom reminded us the mission of a prophet naturally includes suffering. We dedicate you and your wife to God for the renewal of our country,” he wrote.

The prayer gathering was the second event held by the commission and human rights groups in Hong Kong after Liu’s release from prison June 26.

The other event — outside of the central government’s Liaison Office in Hong Kong June 27 — protested how Liu had been treated by mainland authorities.

In 2009, Liu was sentenced to 11 years for inciting subversion for his leading role in the Charter 08 manifesto. He was awarded the 2010 Nobel Peace Prize for “his long and nonviolent struggle for fundamental human rights in China.”

Liu’s supporters begged Chinese authorities to let him receive medical treatment abroad.

Among those voices were two medical specialists from the United States and Germany who countered calls saying he was too ill to undergo a trip abroad. The two foreign doctors joined Chinese counterparts in a medical team formed to offer treatment to Liu.

Related Post

Jacinta and Francisco Marto are pictured with their cousin Lucia dos Santos (right) in a file photo taken around the time of the 1917 apparitions of Mary at Fatima, Portugal. Pope Francis has approved the recognition of a miracle attributed to the intercession of two of the shepherd children, thus paving the way for their canonization. (CNS file photo)

Pope recognizes miracle attributed to Fatima visionaries

Posted by - March 30, 2017 0
VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Pope Francis has approved the recognition of a miracle attributed to the intercession of two of…
Father Paul Felix, pastor of Annunciation Catholic Church, blesses Tonya Killian's new rosaries outside the downtown Houston parish that sits across the street from Minute Maid Park where the Houston Astros hosted the Los Angeles Dodgers during the 2017 World Series Oct. 27. Killian, a parishioner at Mary Queen Catholic Church in Friendswood, Texas, bought the last two rosaries specially made for the 2017 World Series sold that day. (CNS photo/James Ramos, Texas Catholic Herald)

Update: After Harvey, faith fuels Houston fans; team wins World Series

Posted by - November 4, 2017 0
HOUSTON (CNS) — Baseball bats and rosary beads were the only thing on Tonya Killian’s mind as she walked toward…