【慈幼通訊社 ─ 2011 年 10 月 19 日香港訊】 ─ 2011年10月19日星期三上午，慈幼會士陳日君樞機於香港筲箕灣慈幼修院大門外，展開一連三日三夜的禁食。

陳樞機此舉，是為表達他對香港的教育制度近日所受到創傷的悲哀。上星期，香港終審法院駁回天主教香港教區有關「2004修訂的校本條例」的上訴。

修訂的校本條例，使香港教會辦理的學校，完全脫離宗教學校辦學團體的控制，而將控制權交給只向政府負責的學校「法團校董會」。

這樣，香港其中一項最寶貴的特色：政府與教會之間互信地推動青少年的全人教育，便從此消失了。

樞機展開禁食之前，舉行了新聞發佈會解釋他悲哀的理由。他在演說開始時表示：「我欠多年來支持我們，尤其是向我們提供法律服務，並願意分擔財務的眾多朋友一個解釋。對眾多在不同艱難時期，獻身香港教育事業，並留下這寶貴遺產予我們守護的人士，尤其是傳教士，我也欠他們一個解釋。」

他並以戲劇性的行動作結束：「親愛的朋友，終審法院的判決是最終的，因此我們再沒有透過法庭澄清的機會。我們的申訴得不到確認，非常遺憾。我們一方面悲哀，然而我們不會絕望。天主是歷史的主宰，我們把一切憂慮交付給祂，祂必關顧我們。願祂恩賜我們，透過我們敎友及非教友朋友對我們教育理念的支持，以天主教為名的學校能繼續履行真正的天主教教育，使青少年明白並追求人類生存的真正目的，並竭力為社會上每個人過幸福而有意義的生活而作出貢獻。我願意回答兩三條問題。之後，為表達我的悲哀，我將一連三日三夜禁食，只喝清水及領聖體。我不願任何人加入我這個行動，然而我將感謝在這些日子中，為我祈禱，在精神上陪伴我的人。」

Cardinal Joseph Zen Fighting and Fasting for Hong Kong’s Catholic Education

(ANS - HONG KONG, 19 October 2011, austraLasia #2932) – On Wednesday morning, 19 October, 2011, at the door of the Salesian Missionary House, Shau Kei Wan (Hong Kong), Cardinal Joseph Zen SDB. began a 3 day and night abstention from food.

Cardinal Zen is doing this to express his grief at a grievous wound inflicted recently on Hong Kong ’s education system. Last week, Hong Kong ’s Court of Final Appeal rejected the appeal filed by the Catholic Church against the Amended Education Ordinance 2004.

The Amended Ordinance effectively withdraws all Hong Kong ’s Church-run schools from the control of the religious school-sponsoring body to hand over control to an Incorporated Management Committee answerable directly only to the Government.

In this way, one of Hong Kong ’s most precious features comes to an end, namely, the active and trusting collaboration between Government and Churches in the promotion of the holistic education of the young.

Before beginning his fast, the Cardinal gave a press-conference to the Hong Kong press to explain the reasons for his grief. Towards the beginning of his presentation, he said: “I owe this [explanation] to the many friends who supported our action over these years, especially those who rendered legal service to us on a voluntary basis and those who are ready to share our financial burden. I owe this also to many, specially missionaries, who, in very difficult times, have dedicated their life to education in Hong Kong and have left such precious legacy to us for safe-keeping.”

He concluded with his dramatic move thus: “Dear friends, the decision of the Court of Final Appeal is final. So we will not be given further chance to clarify anything in Court. We regret that our claim has not been recognised. We grieve, but we do not despair. God is the Lord of history. We throw all our worries on him. He takes care of us. May He grant that, through support to our educational ideal by our Catholic and non-Catholic friends, a truly Catholic education can still be offered in the schools which bear the name ‘Catholic’, so that the young people may understand and pursue the real goal of human existence and contribute to a happy and meaningful life for everybody in society. I am ready to answer two or three questions. After that, to show my grief, I will, for 3 days and 3 nights, abstain from food, excepting water and Holy Communion. I do not want anybody to join this expression of grief of mine, but I would be grateful for spiritual accompaniment through prayer in these days.”

(以上相片由天亞社及慈幼會傳意辦公室提供)