HONG KONG (SE): A livestreamed Mass was concelebrated by John Cardinal Tong Hon and Father Benedict Lam Cho-ming and Father Dominic Lui Chi-man to mark Pro-life Day on September 8.
Father Lui, supervisor of the Bioethics Resources Centre of the Holy Spirit Seminary College, reminded people to challenge distorted values that show disrespect for life and to be concerned about Covid-19 coronavirus vaccines prepared using the cell lines of aborted foetuses.
At the beginning of the Mass, Cardinal Tong said every life is sacred and inviolable. He invited people to pray that the meaning of human life be made manifest through glorifying the work of God.
In his homily, Father Lui said it is common for people to casually label others according to qualifications, skills, status or personality traits and determine their value. This kind of mentality might give some an excuse to disregard lives under the culture of death, which was condemned by Pope St. John Paul II, in his 1995 encyclical, The Gospel of Life.
“Fertilised eggs and embryos are often labelled as cell tissues, research materials or medical wastes. With such labelling, life is not respected. They are our brothers and sisters, but are killed or discarded unscrupulously as no one speaks for them,” Father Lui said.
Quoting from The Gospel of Life, Father Lui called on people to look at the wonder of life and respect everyone’s right to life. “We should build up the culture of life with our conscience and challenge distorted values as they can lead us away from truth and make it difficult for us to be guided by the Word of God,” he added.
Father Lui shared that a Covid-19 vaccine project announced by the Australian government on August 18, has drawn the Church’s attention as the vaccine uses a cell line from aborted fetuses. Archbishop Anthony Fisher of Sydney, together with the archbishops of the Anglican Church and the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese, penned an open letter days later to urge the government to offer more options as the vaccine chosen could create an ethical dilemma for Catholics. (Sunday Examiner, September 6)
Father Lui reminded people that the Vatican released a statement in 2005 against vaccinating children with shots prepared using cell lines derived from aborted human fetuses. It called on parents to make a complaint against the manufacturers of such vaccines and demand a replacement. Moreover, vaccines should not present a serious health risk to children or pregnant women.
On the feast day celebrating the birthday of Blessed Virgin Mary, he urged people to follow her example as she bravely responded to the plan of God with faith even though it was deemed impossible and left her with questions in heart. He urged people to work on the will of God like Mary, while at the same time reminding us that it may not bring us any benefits on earth and may draw criticisms.
Father Lui concluded by inviting people to respond to the appeal of Pope St. John Paul II and protect life with hearts open to the will of God.
“Let’s serve the lives we meet, especially the small ones who cannot speak for themselves, with the heart of Mary,” he said.
The diocese was supposed to celebrate the Pro-life Day on May 31 but it clashed with Pentecost Sunday this year so the celebration was postponed to the feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
