Michael Yeung
| The Most Revd Michael Yeung Ming-cheung | |
|---|---|
| Bishop of Hong Kong | |
| Church | Roman Catholic Church |
| Diocese | Hong Kong |
| See | Hong Kong |
| Installed | 1 August 2017 |
| Predecessor | John Tong Hon |
| Orders | |
| Ordination | 10 June 1978 |
| Consecration |
30 August 2014 by John Tong Hon |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
1 December 1945 Shanghai |
| Nationality | Chinese |
| Denomination | Roman Catholic |
| Residence | Hong Kong |
| Previous post |
|
| Alma mater |
Pontifical Urban University Syracuse University Harvard University |
| Motto |
Surgite Eamus Hinc (起行伊始) |
| Coat of arms |
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| Michael Yeung | |||||||||||
| Traditional Chinese | 楊鳴章 | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Simplified Chinese | 杨鸣章 | ||||||||||
| |||||||||||
Michael Yeung Ming-cheung (Chinese: 楊鳴章, born 1 December 1945) is the Bishop of Hong Kong. He was consecrated on 30 August 2014.
Early life
Yeung Ming-cheung was born in Shanghai in 1945. He completed his primary and secondary schooling and began working for an import-export company. In 1972 at the age of 26 he entered the major seminary and studied theology and philosophy.
Life in priesthood
He was ordained a priest for the diocese of Hong Kong on 10 June 1978.
After his ordination he took a variety of pastoral and administrative roles. From 1978 to 1980 he was vicar in Ha Kwai Chung District, New Territories; from 1980 to 1982 he earned an MA in social communications from Syracuse University in the United States. In 1982 he returned to Hong Kong and was appointed director of the office of Social Communications for the diocese. He held this post until 1986.[1]
Subsequently he was appointed as parish priest of Our Lady of Lourdes parish, where he served until 1989 when he was appointed chaplain at Yu C.K. Memorial College. He returned to the United States to study at Harvard University where in 1990 he earned a Master's in Education (Ed.M.). He returned to Hong Kong in 1990 and held the post of director of the office of education until 2013. He was appointed vicar general of the diocese in 2009. He was later appointed a member of the Pontifical Council Cor Unum.[1]
On 11 July 2014, Pope Francis appointed him Titular Bishop of Mons in Numidia and named him one of three Auxiliary Bishops of Hong Kong along with Joseph Ha Chi-shing, O.F.M., and Stephen Lee Bun-sang. Bishop Yeung Ming-cheung became the coadjutor bishop of the diocese on 13 November 2016.[2]
On 27 June 2018, news media in Hong Kong reported that Yeung has tendered his resignation to Pope Francis in order to better serve the poor.[3] However it was later reported as a misunderstanding since he merely informed the press of his retirement plans not his actual retirement.[4]
Public stances
Yeung has made various statements over the years which have sparked controversies. Yeung has been criticized for comparing those who took part in the 2014 Hong Kong protests to those who use drugs.[5] There have also been criticisms of Yeung's close ties with Carrie Lam, the 5th Chief Executive of Hong Kong. Yeung said Lam is a Catholic, and he has had good ties with Lam for years. Yeung also said he has known Lam on a professional level, during her time as the Director of the Social Welfare Department, and that he has no reasons to reject her, and sever ties.[6][7] Yeung has also been criticized for allegedly defending mainland Chinese authorities during a news conference over controversies concerning the removal of crucifixes from church buildings or demolition of churches.[8][9] He also said that, since China has regulations on religion, he will respect their rules.[10]
References
- 1 2 "Nomina di Ausiliari di Hong Kong" (Press release). 13 November 2016.
- ↑ Brockhaus, Hannah (13 November 2016). "Pope Francis appoints new bishop of Hong Kong". Catholic News Agency. Retrieved 16 November 2016.
- ↑ "楊鳴章提早請辭主教「返明愛工作」理由牽強". Apple Daily 蘋果日報. Retrieved 2018-06-27.
- ↑ "楊鳴章否認辭任香港教區主教 稱屬誤會一場". on.cc東網 (in Chinese). Retrieved 2018-06-27.
- ↑ "楊鳴章接任主教 過往言論曾受爭議" [Michael Yeung Ming-cheung takes over as Bishop, has attracted controversies over past statements]. Now TV News (in Traditional Chinese). 1 August 2017. Retrieved 7 October 2017.
他過往曾發表爭議性言論，包括以吸毒比喻同性戀和參與佔中的人。(He has made controversial statements in the past, including the allusion of homosexuals and Occupy Central protest participants to drug use.)
- ↑ "新主教楊鳴章:無理由不與林鄭來往 (New Bishop Michael Yeung Ming-cheung: I have no reasons to cut off ties with Lam Cheng)". Hong Kong Economic Journal (in Traditional Chinese). 2 August 2017. Retrieved 8 October 2017.
- ↑ "楊鳴章說與林鄭月娥認識多年 無理由不與她來往 (Michael Yeung Ming-cheung said he has known Carrie Lam for years, has no reasons to cut off ties with her)". RTHK (in Traditional Chinese). 2 August 2017. Retrieved 8 October 2017.
- ↑ "New Hong Kong bishop's cross removal comments sparks anger". Union of Catholic Asian News. 4 August 2017. Retrieved 8 October 2017.
- ↑ Zhen, Shuji (3 August 2017). "新主教杨鸣章：平反六四"是面铁墙"不会撼头下去" [New Bishop Yeung Ming-cheung: Rehabilitating June 4th "is an iron wall", and will not confront it directly]. Radio France Internationale (in Simplified Chinese). Retrieved 8 October 2017.
谈到惹起纷争的浙江温州拆卸天主堂十字架事件时，杨鸣章似乎还为中共作出袒护，他说内地近年频拆十字架，他认为问题较复杂，"是否关乎建筑物安全，都可能会……" (When speaking about a controversial incident involving the removal of crosses from a Wenzhou, Zhejiang Catholic church, Yeung appears to still be defending the Chinese Communists, saying the issue is rather complicated, "Is it related to structural safety? Maybe so.....")
- ↑ "楊鳴章稱內地拆十字架的事情複雜 尊重當局訂出的規條" [Michael Yeung Ming-cheung said the destruction of crosses in the Mainland is a complicated issue, will respect the rules set by authorities there]. RTHK (in Traditional Chinese). 2 August 2017. Retrieved 8 October 2017.
| Catholic Church titles | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by John Tong Hon |
Bishop of Hong Kong 2017–present |
Incumbent |
