HONG KONG (SE): The Diocese of Hong Kong, responding to global efforts by the Church to protect children, established the Diocesan Safeguarding Minors and Vulnerable Persons Office-St. Goretti’s Centre, to enhance the Church’s child protection mechanisms and serve those seeking help. The centre is expected to be operational in 2025.
The Diocesan Catechetical Centre arranged a special training seminar on August 25 at St. Jude’s parish, North Point. The aim was to help Sunday school teachers and catechists learn how to create a safe and supportive environment for children and vulnerable individuals.
“The centre, in coordination with the laws of Hong Kong and the laws of the Church, wishes to improve our present system. We invite you to join us as guardians of the children and the vulnerable,” said Father Dominic Lui Chi-man, a member of the soon-to-be-established centre.
He explained that St. Maria Goretti was chosen as the patron saint of the centre because she was a victim of sexual abuse who forgave her offender, who can act as a reminder for people to pray for not only the victims but also the offenders as well.
“We all want the victims to learn from the healing spirit of Jesus so that they will continue to live with a belief in God and become a pilgrim seeking him. We know that it is not easy for the victims to be hurt, as it challenges their faith, their hope, and even their love, and it may be very difficult for them to express their love to others,” Father Lui said. He expressed hope for their reconciliation and return to the Lord. He continued, saying that although the offender deserves punishment and is wicked, there is hope for their repentance and seeking forgiveness in the Lord.
The centre, in coordination with the laws of Hong Kong and the laws of the Church, wishes to improve our present system. We invite you to join us as guardians of the children and the vulnerable
Father Dominic Lui
Father Lui observed that the Catholic Church has been facing a crisis concerning the sexual abuse of minors and vulnerable adults. This has been exacerbated by past mishandling of cases stemming from a lack of understanding of the psychology of perpetrators and the severity of the harm inflicted on victims, prioritisation of protecting the Church’s reputation over supporting victims, and a tendency to treat cases confidentially within internal Church structures.
Pope Francis has implemented a “zero-tolerance” policy, encompassing prevention through screening, training, and clear behavioural guidelines and intervention through investigations, cooperation with legal authorities, punishment of offenders, and pastoral care for victims and their families. Recent reforms include establishing a reporting system for any suspected abuse to the bishop, as mentioned in the Apostolic Letter issued by Pope Francis, Vos Estis Lux Mundi [You are the Light of the World] in 2019.
Father Lui said the centre will develop a more comprehensive system for protecting children and vulnerable individuals within the diocese. This includes training church members, drafting guidelines and dealing with complaints.
Recognising the importance of international practices, Father Lui and another member of the centre, Precious Blood Sister Anne Yau, will be travelling to Rome for the next six months to acquire diplomas in safeguarding minors and vulnerable adults and bring back global Church experiences to Hong Kong.
In fact, the diocese invited Jesuit Father John Lee Hua, director of the Child Protection and Professional Standards Office in Taiwan, to train clergy about child protection and problem-solving techniques last year.
We know that it is not easy for the victims to be hurt, as it challenges their faith, their hope, and even their love, and it may be very difficult for them to express their love to others,
Father Lui
Davis Hui, a solicitor and centre member, highlighted the responsibility of the Church to provide a safe environment for children, contrasting this with the reality of numerous child abuse cases all over the world. He cited statistics from the United States, where 156 clergy and staff in the Diocese of Baltimore were reported to have abused 600 children over the past 80 years. Similar cases also occurred in Hong Kong, like the case of Father Michael Lau Ka-yee, who was convicted in 1991 of indecent assault and attempted sodomy against a 15-year-old boy.
Hui also spoke about the legal framework surrounding child protection, outlining existing laws and focusing on offences such as indecent assault and sexual activity with minors. Furthermore, he shared that by January 2026, an ordinance will also in place to make it mandatory for professionals, like social workers, medical practitioners and teachers, to report sexual abuse of children.
He mentions the potential civil liability of the Church in cases of child abuse, where victims can sue for compensation.
He then explained the Sexual Conviction Record Check Scheme implemented in 2011, which is voluntary for those seeking employment involving children or mentally incapacitated individuals. This will expand to include volunteers such as Sunday School teachers by the end of next year.
Catechists might also be asked to sign consent forms and self-declarations, confirming their commitment to protecting children and declaring their lack of criminal records
Mandatory training for catechists proposed
While acknowledging the government’s initiative to protect children, Father Lui said the centre and the diocese have reservations about the effectiveness of relying on the voluntary Sexual Conviction Record Check Scheme to screen out potential offenders. He said that the diocese is now more intended to prevent abuses by mandatory training and drafting guidelines for Sunday school teachers. Catechists might also be asked to sign consent forms and self-declarations, confirming their commitment to protecting children and declaring their lack of criminal records. Currently, the centre is seeking feedback from catechists and parishes on these proposals through seminars.
Bridget Lee Yue-wah, a centre member and social worker, shared several suspected cases and emphasised that whether a child had suffered from abuses can’t be determined solely based on surface evidence. She urged Sunday School teachers to exercise caution and seek support when necessary.
For instance, she cautioned against photographing visible injuries on children and sharing them with others and to delegate the examination process to medical professionals. She mentioned that school social workers also play a critical role in the investigative process, such as engaging with parents and instigating protective actions like hospital assessments and interdepartmental gatherings.
…she cautioned against photographing visible injuries on children and sharing them with others and to delegate the examination process to medical professionals
Lee explained that abused children might exhibit physical injuries, emotional problems, aggressive behaviour, or behaviour inconsistent with their age. She urged participants to stand by the victims and work together to protect them.
At the end of the talk, Father Lui thanked the over 100 catechists, Sunday School teachers and pastoral sisters for their selfless contributions to the young people and pray that they can join their efforts together to protect children in Hong Kong.
One Sunday School teacher from the Holy Cross Parish told the Sunday Examiner that she worries about the challenges once the new mechanism is implemented and the guidelines that she may need to follow, but she will not give up her teaching work as she feels motivated by the desire to share God’s love and teach them about the Gospel. The catechist, who teaches primary 1 to 3 children for three years at the parish, said some of her students may have emotional issues, but she has not encountered any suspected cases of child abuse.
This was the second talk organised by the catechetical centre. The third talk on this issue will be held for the English-speaking community on September 15 on the seventh floor of the Catholic Diocese Centre, Caine Road.
