Former Hong Kong pro-democracy media mogul Jimmy Lai, a Catholic, convicted in landmark national security trial
Hong Kong pro-democracy media mogul Jimmy Lai was convicted in a landmark national security trial on charges including conspiring to collude with foreign forces. The 78-year-old publisher was found guilty by three government-vetted judges of conspiring to endanger national security and publishing seditious articles. Lai was arrested in August 2020 under the Beijing-imposed national security law following the 2019 anti-government protests. The trial, closely monitored internationally, is seen as a measure of media freedom and judicial independence in Hong Kong. The court concluded Lai was the mastermind who intended to destabilize the Chinese Communist Party, even after the security law was implemented.
3 months ago
Jimmy Lai, 78-year-old Catholic media mogul and founder of Apple Daily, was convicted on December 15, 2025, by three government-vetted judges in Hong Kong.1 2
He was found guilty of conspiring to collude with foreign forces to endanger national security and conspiring to publish seditious articles, facing a maximum of life imprisonment.1 2 3
Sentencing hearings are set to begin January 12, 2026.1
Lai was arrested in August 2020 under Hong Kong's Beijing-imposed National Security Law, enacted after 2019 pro-democracy protests.1 3
The 156-day trial, without a jury, featured 161 Apple Daily articles, social media, texts, and meetings with U.S. figures like Mike Pence as evidence.1
Judges ruled Lai masterminded plots to destabilize China's Communist Party, rejecting his claims of ceasing sanction calls post-NSL.1 5
Lai has spent over 1,800 days in custody, mostly solitary confinement, appearing frail with heart issues, diabetes, infections, and lost nails/teeth.1 3
His daughter Claire noted he prayed to Our Lady after falling in prison and regained strength.3 4
Hong Kong authorities claim his medical care is adequate.1
Lai's wife, son, and daughter attended; Cardinal Joseph Zen was present.1 2
Sebastien Lai called it a "dark day," saying nothing incriminated his father beyond journalism.3 5
Claire stated authorities fear what Lai represents.3 4
A convert in 1997, Lai's faith sustained him; he sketched crucifixes in prison.3 5
His family met Pope Leo XIV in October 2025.3
He received awards like Christifidelis Laici (2021), honorary degree from Catholic University (2022), and Nobel nomination (2023).3 4
U.S. President Trump raised the case with Xi Jinping; UK PM Starmer prioritizes Lai's release as a British citizen.1 3
UK Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper condemned the "politically motivated prosecution."3 4
Rights groups like Reporters Without Borders decried it as shattering press freedom.1
Critics called it a "sham" or "Stalin-like" trial; theologian George Weigel labeled it authoritarian.2 5
Ashley McGuire hailed Lai as a "Christian witness" and potential martyr.2
Calls mount for sanctions and his unconditional release.2 3
Investigate Catholic Church’s stance on national security laws
The Catholic Church affirms the legitimacy of national security laws aimed at protecting the common good, including self-defense, border control, and public order, while insisting these measures must always respect human dignity, promote participation, and avoid intrinsic evils like torture. Drawing from papal encyclicals, bishops' statements, and teachings on state authority, the Church views security not as an absolute but as subordinate to moral principles, warning against excesses that undermine rights or lead to totalitarianism.
Catholic teaching recognizes the state's duty to ensure security, prosperity, and defense of its people. Pope Leo XIII emphasized that, absent exceptional circumstances, participation in public affairs is expedient, particularly for "the defense, preservation, and prosperity of his country," with the Church approving such service to the common good. This aligns with the recognition that nations retain "the right to use that force which is necessary to muster self-defense that is permissible and lawful," especially against threats like terrorism when peaceful means fail, though modern weapons of mass destruction demand extreme caution. Pope John Paul II echoed this by linking national security to the "right to peace and security," essential for human fulfillment amid threats like terrorism or armed conflict. In immigration contexts, the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) explicitly supports border security measures "with due respect for the human rights of all," having endorsed bipartisan bills enhancing enforcement alongside pathways to legal status. These teachings underscore a presumption in favor of just action by civil authorities to protect citizens.
True national security laws flourish in democratic systems that ensure citizen involvement and accountability. Pope John Paul II taught that the State's sovereignty is unrealized if power is imposed by elites rather than exercised with "the moral participation of the society or people," stressing citizens' "right share in the political life" amid growing social awareness. The Church values democracy for allowing citizens to elect, hold accountable, and replace leaders peacefully, rejecting "narrow ruling groups which usurp the power of the State." However, this requires a "correct conception of the human person," education in ideals, and structures for shared responsibility; without ultimate truth, democracy risks manipulation and totalitarianism. The Church thus promotes security laws rooted in law-ruled states that foster participation, not agnostic relativism.
While supporting security, the Church subordinates it to inviolable human dignity. No concern for national security justifies "any violation of the fundamental dignity of the human person or of the basic rights that safeguard this dignity." Pope John Paul II warned that ideologies prioritizing security could "assujettir à l’État l’homme, ses droits et sa dignité" (subjugate man, his rights, and dignity to the State), rendering them inhuman and incompatible with Christianity. Social organization exists "only for the service of man and for the protection of his dignity," resolving any security-rights tension accordingly.
In specific applications, the USCCB opposes disproportionate emphasis on punitive enforcement that undermines family unity or humanitarian protections, advocating balanced measures with training and oversight. Asylum must be granted to those with "a well-founded fear of persecution," prioritizing vulnerable groups like unaccompanied children and trafficking victims. Protection for Dreamers exemplifies contributions immigrants make, urging paths to citizenship without jeopardizing family immigration.
The Church unequivocally condemns torture as "an intrinsic evil that cannot be justified under any circumstances," violating dignity, degrading all involved, and eroding moral credibility while proving counterproductive for intelligence. The USCCB has urged release of reports on CIA practices to prevent recurrence, affirming torture's illegality and harm to security cooperation. National security laws permitting such acts are illicit, as the faithful must resist obedience to evil mandates, suffering if necessary for justice rather than complying.
Papal precedents illustrate limits on state security claims encroaching on Church rights or conscience. Popes have protested laws injurious to ecclesiastical liberties, declaring them invalid against inalienable rights and calling for reform reconcilable with Catholic conscience. Catholics have been accused of treason for resisting unjust edicts, yet the Church defends their fidelity to princes in good acts while excluding divine law violations. Rulers are urged to suppress threats to religion and society, as religion's health intertwines with societal stability.
In summary, the Catholic Church endorses national security laws that justly defend the common good through participation, self-defense, and controlled borders, but demands they be proportionate, humane, and truth-guided, rejecting torture, rights violations, or totalitarian drifts. Recent USCCB positions and John Paul II's addresses reinforce this equilibrium, prioritizing human dignity as the foundation of authentic security. Fidelity to these principles ensures laws serve humanity rather than subjugating it.