Faith, spirit of science can benefit China, say speakers

Published Date: May 8, 2009

The Catholic faith and the spirit of science can both be of service to Chinese society, say speakers at a recent Church-run seminar.

The Catholic faith can help provide a counterbalance to the problems that come with capitalism and technological and scientific change, says Macau politician Antonio Ng Kuok-cheong.

Beijing can rest assured the Church would not shatter its foundations, said Ng, a Catholic.

The member of the Macau Legislative Assembly and a leading pro-democracy campaigner in the territory, was speaking to UCA News after a seminar organized by the Catholic weekly “The Observatorio de Macau” recently. The seminar was to mark the 90th anniversary of the May Fourth Movement of 1919.

The May Fourth Movement grew out of anti-imperialist student demonstrations in the wake of the Versailles Treaty that took Shandong from Germany but handed it to Japan, sparking outrage among many Chinese. The movement is now credited with laying the foundations for modernization of the country as it had said that democracy and science can defeat colonialism and feudalism.

Ng told the seminar that he hoped both Macau and Hong Kong special administrative regions could achieve democratic governance to serve as a reference for the mainland.

Macau and Hong Kong are under the “one country, two systems” rule since they reverted to China, in 1999 and 1997 respectively. Macau was formerly governed by the Portuguese while Hong Kong was governed by the British.

Chan Wai-chi, director of the “The Observatorio de Macau” published by the Macau Association of Catholic Laity, told the seminar how the reform of the Peking University had encouraged students to speak up, to be socially concerned and to participate in politics. This paved the way for the May Fourth Movement, he said.

Chan said this was in contrast to today.

“Very few students these days are concerned with historical events like the May Fourth Movement. Our school curriculum over-emphasizes the importance of examinations, leaving students little time to tend to public affairs,” said Chan, who is also a Catholic teacher.

Another speaker, Pun Vai-nim, spoke on the significance of science, another significant aspect of from the May Fourth Movement.

Since the First Opium War (1839-1942), China had focused attention on “scientific achievements” but neglected the spirit of science, which was the seeking of beauty, goodness, courage and diversity, Pun noted.

After the May Fourth Movement, many intellectuals had advocated that only scientific spirit could genuinely save and strengthen the country, he said.

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