Article 23 won’t alter confidential nature of confession, says Catholic Diocese of HK

Article 23 will not alter the confidential nature of confession, the Catholic Diocese of Hong Kong said, adding that the church recognizes citizens’ obligation to safeguard national security. 

The church’s latest response came on Friday following days of discussions about whether religions would fall within the scope of the offense of misprision of treason under the new homegrown national security law. 

“With regard to the legislation of Article 23 on safeguarding national security, the Catholic Diocese of Hong Kong recognizes that citizens have an obligation to ensure national security,” the church said. 

“The Catholic Diocese of Hong Kong has expressed its views on Article 23. The legislation of Article 23 will not alter the confidential nature of Confession (Sacrament of Reconciliation) of the Church.” 

In Thursday’s Legislative Council meeting, Reverend Canon Peter Koon Ho-ming of the election committee constituency said the content of the confession is confidential between the priest and the believer and shouldn’t be leaked to outsiders. 

He asked whether the government has relevant protection clauses but Secretary for Justice Paul Lam Ting-kwok replied that misprision of treason is an offense of extreme serious nature, and it would be difficult for authorities to make any exceptions for religious personnel or social workers. 

Lam added that the offense has set a clear coverage, and its definition is very narrow to target certain offenders. 

On Wednesday night, the government also issued a statement to condemn Hong Kong Watch and 16 co-signatories for smearing the clauses on treason and misprision of treason and claiming that the requirement of “disclosure of commission of treason by others” targets religions.