Bishop Stephen Lee | ‘Fear’ behind China’s refusal to admit mainlanders to USJ

Bishop Stephen Lee

Macau’s new bishop Stephen Lee struck out at mainland China last week, accusing the Central Government of fearing the propagation of Catholic education.
His comments, made during a TDM interview, were in response to the Central Government’s recent refusal of a request from the University of Saint Joseph (USJ). The university had asked for at least 60 mainland students as part of its plans to grow its current student body of 1300, with the available facilities in its new Ilha Verde campus set to open next year.
Bishop Lee said that fear was the only reason he could fathom behind the decision. He added that the refusal saddened him, since the Church’s relationship with mainland authorities had generally been improving.
“Fear that we educate some Catholics and clash against the government,” he reasoned. “I don’t know; that’s the only reason I can see.”
“[We have always] tried to be friendly to every country, especially to the motherland, China. So I don’t see any reason why it [the request] should have been rejected. It’s quite unfair to us and that’s why I’m quite sad to hear that,” said Lee.
Bishop Lee, who has now been in his new role for around a month, took over office from the former bishop, José Lai, who resigned for health reasons. Lee’s appointment has caused some to speculate that the Hong Kong-born priest could bring to Macau a dose of the neighboring SAR’s political activism.
Although at the ceremony marking his installation as bishop of Macau, Lee reminded his congregation that it was imperative to have “unity with God, unity with the Pope, unity with the city of Macau, and unity of China,” his outspoken comments last week are in stark contrast with Lai’s more cautious standpoint.
The new bishop also stressed last week that ties between the Church and mainland authorities are stronger today than they have been for a long time, which makes the rejection more surprising.
Lee told TDM, “the relationship with China has been getting on so well. But now, suddenly, [they] rejected our request.”
“We have to abide by the ‘One Country, Two Systems’. Our role is quite passive in the sense that we can help if they want us to help,” said Bishop Lee, adding that the Church is capable of helping China by offering spiritual and financial assistance. DB