Justice and Peace Commission of the Hong Kong Catholic Diocese

Address： Rm 302, 1 Tai Shek Street, Sai Wan Ho, Shaukiwan, Hong Kong.
Tel﹕ 852-2560-3865 Fax﹕852-2539-8023
E-mail﹕ hkjp@hkjp.org
Web site： http://www.hkjp.org

Origin

In 1965, in the proclamation of Vatican Council II: Pastoral Constitution on the Church in the Modern World, it was emphasized that a large proportion of the world's population is still struggling in hardship caused by disaster and poverty. To promote world justice and a Christian concern and brotherly love for the poor and afflicted, it was urged that a world organization be set up to assist in the development of the poorer nations. It is most timely that such a world body be formed. (Section 90) Two years later, Pope Paul VI officially proclaimed the institution of the Pontifical Commission for Justice and Peace. In 1977, the Justice and Peace Commission of Hong Kong Catholic Diocese was officially established.

Objectives

1. To foster a fuller understanding and greater recognition of the basic equity between all human beings.

2. To stimulate the observance, protection and promotion of the rights of the human person in the light of the Gospel and the teachings of the Church.

3. To translate the social teachings of the Church to actions that aim at the development of all human beings for the glorification of God.

4. To implement such teachings for the improvement of the quality of life of human beings.

5. To promote the sense of justice and peace in the Diocese in accordance with such teachings.

6. To collaborate with people of other traditions and beliefs for the promotion of social justice in every aspect of human life.

7. To make recommendations to the Bishop on matters related to justice and peace.

Work

1. Analyze social policies, involve in social movements

analyze those social policies that affect people's livelihood, e.g., social security, medical service, housing, social welfare and labour policy, etc

protest against injustice through social actions

defend basic rights of minorities, e.g. on the right of abode issue of the Mainland-born children of Hong Kong residents

promote democracy and advocate a faster pace of political development

organize workshops for particular social issues

2. Advocate for and promote Human Rights

concern and advocate for local and overseas human rights issues and write up Hong Kong human rights reports

concern for human rights issues like gender equality, police brutality, privacy, freedom of speech and equal opportunities for minorities, etc.

produce educational kits, booklets and exhibition boards and organize seminars and activities

concern for the reportings of human right situations in mass media and produce mass media educational kits

3. Promote social awareness within the church

A member of the Diocese's Parish Social Concern Support Group

organize activities to promote Catholic social teachings and social justice, e.g., talks, workshops, retreats, exposure, etc.

organize awareness programs for Basic Faith Communities and other groups in Church

support and educate parish social concern groups

study Catholic Social Teachings, Social Ethics and related topics

4. Concern about Chinese affairs

analyze and examine political, social and economic situations of China, e.g. study on one-child policy

organize seminars, courses and sharing meetings and various activities on recent development of China

organize visits and exposures to rural areas

organize concerns through social actions

5. Publication

Justice & Peace Newsletter (regularly published), Social Concern Handbook, Justice-seeking Teachings : A Simplified Version of the Catholic Social Teachings

human rights educational kits of various topics

booklets and VCDs on specific topics

6. Others

columns in diocesan weekly KungKaoPo and expressinos of opinions on social issues at Catholic Faith Hotline

web page

Structure

　　The Commission consists of 9 to 18 Catholics. They are all appointed by the Bishop of the Hong Kong Catholic Diocese and serve on a voluntary basis.

　　The Commission is an authorized representative of the Catholic Diocese of Hong Kong and it is also accountable to the Diocese authority in all its actions. The JP secretariat has full-time staff to deal with the daily work of the commission.