28 Mar 2024明報#3271
23條立法︳周守仁：國安要求下需習慣新處境 會保存告解完整性
Under the Article 23 legislation, the offence of concealing treason will be renamed disclosing another person’s commission of treason. Cardinal Stephen Chow, bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Hong Kong, said in a sermon this morning (28th) that it was necessary to adapt to new circumstances under national security requirements. He stressed that the integrity of the Sacrament of Reconciliation, also known as confession, would be preserved: “We will not fear any cost; we must preserve its integrity and not compromise it.” He called on the faithful to pray for clergy and diocesan public affairs staff to have the wisdom to discern, freedom in their hearts, and a spirit of prudence and courage.
《基本法》23條立法下將隱匿叛國罪改名披露他人犯叛國罪，天主教香港教區主教周守仁樞機今（28日）早在講道中說，在國家安全要求下，需要習慣新的處境，但強調會保存修和聖事（或稱告解）的完整性，「我們會不怕任何代價，要保存它的完整性不被妥協」。他呼籲信眾，為神職及教區公務人員有辨別智慧、自由的內心、謹慎及勇毅的精神代禱。
15 Mar 2024獨媒#3184
天主教香港教區：23條立法不會改變告解保密性
The Basic Law’s Article 23 legislation is expected to be completed as early as next week. In response to confession, one of the focal points discussed during the deliberations, the Catholic Diocese of Hong Kong said in a press release today that the legislation “will not change the confidentiality of confession (the Sacrament of Reconciliation) practised by the Church all along.”
Among the selected views received by the authorities during the consultation period, some religious-sector representatives expressed concern that the new offence of “concealing treason” could conflict with the religious tradition of the confidentiality of confession. The offence means that if a person knows that another person has committed treason—such as waging war against China or inciting a foreign armed invasion—but fails to disclose what they know to the authorities within a reasonable time, they would be committing the offence of “concealing treason”. The view called for clergy to be granted professional confidentiality privilege in the same way as members of the legal profession.
《基本法》第23條料最快下周完成立法，就審議期間討論焦點之一的告解，天主教香港教區今日發新聞稿回應，教區明言立法「不會改變教會一貫以來施行的告解（修和聖事）的保密性」。
當局在諮詢期內收到的意見擇要中，有宗教界人士憂新罪行「隱匿叛國」罪與宗教告解保密傳統有衝突。「隱匿叛國」罪的意思是，如某人知道另一人犯了「叛國」罪（向中國發動戰爭或鼓動外國武力入侵等），卻沒有於合理時間內把所知向當局披露，則屬干犯「隱匿叛國」罪。該意見促授予神職人員如法律界人士一樣享有專業保密權。
Translations are supplied by the source workbook. Consult the original reporting for context.
