1.3.2008

Activating the Christian vote
Chan Kok Leong  (c) malaysiakini.com

Christian churches and groups which have traditionally steered clear of politics have now begun to take a more active role in educating and disseminating information to voters.

Besides the ceramah and roadshows that the election campaign has thrown up, dialogues organised by various churches have sprung up as well.

Many churches are inviting candidates and academicians to debate and discuss national issues, in addition to issuing guidelines to the congregation on how to vote.

Last week, the St Francis Xavier Catholic church, not for the first time, hosted a debate between candidates contesting in the PJS parliamentary constituency - MCA's Donald Lim and PKR's Hee Loy Sian - as well as Gerakan Lim Thuan Seng and DAP's Edward Lee, who are standing in the Bukit Gasing state seat.

The Council of Churches of Malaysia (CCM) had human rights lawyer Malik Imtiaz and academician Dr Farish Noor at a dialogue with church-goers yesterday.

Explaining why, CCM general secretary Rev Dr Hermen Shastri said: "In view of the many issues related to corruption, the state of judiciary and freedom of religion, many churches located in urban areas are keen on engaging with candidates as to their stand on those issues."

And what are the issues closest to the heart of churches?

"Those relating to the state of mission schools, the hassle regarding permits for places for worship, inadequate burial grounds and permits to run social service centres are issues that come up all the time when dealing with local authorities and government agencies," he said.

However, these are small matters compared to the confiscation of Bibles and prohibition of the use of certain words in Christian publications, he said.

"All of these impinge upon the religious freedom provided in the Federal Constitution. And they will certainly be a factor in the hearts and minds of Christians when they go to vote," said Dr Hermen.

Is this trend here to stay?

A Catholic church insider said: "Hopefully! Christians are more politically conscious now and have the courage to respond. And it's about time that they realise they have a duty and be responsible for the problems in the country.

"As citizens, they have a moral duty to ensure the right candidates (based on their social beliefs) are voted. That is the proper way to fulfill their duty to the country."

Questions for Christians

Malaysian Christians have much to ponder, from questions on religious freedom (Lina Joy and Revathi Massosai) to parental rights in the conversion of their children (R Subashini and S Shamala), to the religious status and estate of the deceased (Nyonya Tahir and N Moorthy).

Recent incidents involving the seizure of Christian English bibles by a Customs officer at the LCCT and confiscation of Sidang Injil Borneo's Bahasa Malaysia Christian materials for Sunday school have also touched a raw nerve within the normally sanguine church fraternity.

Other incidents involving the demolition of Hindu temples in Selangor for the purposes of development have not helped either. Muslim NGOs have called for the creation of a committee comprising their and local council representatives to decide the fate of a non-Muslim place of worship in a Muslim-majority area.

Christian newsletter ‘Herald’ was threatened with revocation of its publishing permit, but the authorities backed off subsequently by imposing a condition that the words Allah, Baitullah, Kaaba and Solat should not appear in the Bahasa Malaysia section.

This, Christians argue, not only represents a limitation on their right to use Bahasa Malaysia but also to words that are Arabic in origin that have been used by everyone in Malaysia and Middles East for centuries.

For the 2.8 million Christians in the country, a vote for opposition is not a sign of rebellion against the government of the day, but a reflection of their disenchantment with the way it has tackled or ignored religious issues.

But deciding on which candidate to choose was no easier for one church-goer after the two-hour dialogue at CCM.

At the end of the talk, a man in his 70s agonised aloud: “In past elections my choice was simpler. It was between development and backwardness. But this year, I've been having sleepless nights thinking about the candidates. Who should I vote for, Dr Farish?"

Replied the amused historian: “Look at the candidate, not the party. See if he supports race-based politics, the setting up of an Inter-Faith Council, or if the person is asking for the Malaysia to be an Islamic state. Once you do that, you'll know who to vote for."

Churches are taking the same message to their flocks.

MORAL DUTY FOR CATHOLIC VOTERS

ELECTION TIME

The General Elections are here. It is a time for debate and decisions. Catholics have the same rights and duties to vote as any other citizens, but are called to carry them out in light of the truth, faith and justice as taught by the Catholic Church. We are called to respect human authority and obey those who govern society for God's sake and to live as free people without using that freedom to cover any wrongdoings (1 Peter 2:13-17).

Malaysia is a democratic state where citizens choose their leaders through an electoral process, whom they vest with authority for common good. A choice for one person over another for public office such as a Member of Parliament or State Executive Councillor can significantly affect many lives, especially the ethnic minorities, natives, religious persons or the downtrodden. We, the Catholic citizens have a serious moral obligation to exercise our right to vote, whether at national or state level. The Second Vatical Council taught us that “all citizens are to bear in mind that it both their right and duty to use their free vote to promote the common good”. What is more, we have a duty to vote guided by well-formed conscience, and not simply on the basis of self-interest, party affiliation, mega-projects or some monetary gains.
 

BE A CONSCIENTIOUS VOTER

We become conscientious voters when we are guided by our conscience. Conscience is an inner law `written' by God on our hearts and minds that disposes us to love and to do good and avoid evil (Roman 2:14-16). To act against conscience when it is not proper or unjust or evil is as serious as disobeying God.

RECENT UNJUST EVENTS

As Malaysian Catholics, let us be conscience about recent events affecting our lives, either personally or socially, such as:-

• the systematic erosion of the freedom to practise our religion found in Article 11 of the Federal Constitution;
  

• the right to manage our religious affairs, e.g. having our own Catholic publication, Herald without restrictions;
  

• denial of water and electricity to the Church built by the Orang Asli in Kg Pasu, Temerloh, Pahang;
  

• the case of Revathy who was separated from her family and sent to the religious rehabilitation center in Melacca for 180 days for apostasy;
  

• the tussle between the Selangor Religious Department and family members for the body of Rayappan, a Catholic who had passed away in November 2006;

• the Federal Court decision in Lina Joy's case that ruled matters relating to conversion from Islam lies only with the Syariah Court ;
  

• confiscation of Christian materials and books by the Internal Security Ministry's Publications and Al-Quran Text Control Division;
  

• proclamation of Malaysia as an Islamic State by the former Prime Minister last 29.9.2001 and later by the Deputy Prime Minister on 17.7.2007 that goes against the grain of our Social Contract for Independence;
  

• erosion of citizen's right to freedom of peaceful assembly, contrary to Article 10(1)(b) of the Federal Constitution;
  

• application of draconian laws, such as the Internal Security Act (ISA) to arrest and detain a citizen without trial for a long period of time.
  

The above events constitute an attack against our fundamental rights and belief and are instrinsically evil.

THE CHURCH'S CALL

The Church is called to share our social teachings, to highlight the moral dimensions of issues, to participate in debate on public policy, religious matter and to witness the Gospel. Our community of faith brings several assets to these challenges. A moral framework anchored in the Scriptures and expressed in the teachings of Church, caring for the sick and marginalized, sheltering the homeless, feeding the hungry, welcoming refugees, upholding our fundamental freedom enshrined in the Constitution, speaking to those who are voiceless like the Orang Asli, all called to provide a moral leaven for our democracy.

All citizens are urged to see beyond party politics, to analyze campaign rhetoric critically to choose political leaders according to principle, not party affiliation or for monetary interest.

POPE'S COMMENT ON VOTING RIGHTS

Pope John Paul II warned that concern for the “right to home, to work, to freedom of religion is false and illusory if it is not defended with maximum determination” (Christifideles Laici, No. 38). Even Pope Pius XII in the letter “The Church Teaching Regarding Conscience And The Duty To Vote” stated that the vote, is not merely a right to be protected, but a duty to be fulfilled.

For Catholics, freedom to profess own faith, freedom to hold procession publicly during Feast Day, to use the word `Allah' in our publication without fear of sanction and to uphold our entrenched rights in the Federal Constitution is not a narrow cause but a way of life. We are reminded that well formed Catholic conscience does not permit voting for a political program or law that contradicts fundamental principles of our faith. Once a Catholic Bishop in Nigeria, Bishop Francis Okobo of the diocese of Nsukha, even refused to give Holy Communion to parishioners who had failed to register themselves as voters!

OUR DUTY TO VOTE

The Catechism of the Catholic Church (1994) states that it is the duty of citizens to contribute along with the civil authorities to the good of the society in a spirit of truth, justice, solidarity and freedom (2239).

Voting is a civic duty which would seem to bind at least under venial sin whenever a good candidate has an unworthy opponent. It might even be a mortal sin if one's refusal to vote would result in the election of an unworthy candidate (Jone, Moral Theology (Dublin: Mercier Press, 1929, 1955).

So, make 8.3.2008 an important date. Go out to your polling stations and exercise your right to vote. We, Catholics have a moral duty to do so.
 

By ANNOU XAVIER

10.3.2008

Historic day for democracy
©The Sun (Used by permission)
 

The people have spoken, and what a difference their will has made. For the first time since Independence, five state governments are not in the hands of the Barisan Nasional (BN). This means a radical shift has occurred in the balance of power between the state and federal governments, and with it, a new era in federal-state relations has been ushered in.

How will the BN administration in Putrajaya deal with state governments run by its political opponents? Past experience does not offer great comfort.

The wave of unhappiness among voters has also swept away the BN’s previously unassailable two-thirds majority in Parliament, with the opposition parties holding 82 of the 222 seats. Left with a simple majority, the BN will still be able to govern without difficulty, but changes to the Federal Constitution will not be possible as the situation stands.

Beyond the absolute numbers on either side of the parliamentary divide, it is the strong symbolic rebuke that voters have given to the BN administration which is the crux of this historic election. It is remarkable that all the benefits of development that have been spread around under the BN’s watch were unable to sway those voters who felt that they needed to send an unmistakable message to the ruling coalition.

Clearly, the standard of governance that has been displayed was judged to be grossly inadequate by a significant section of the almost 11 million-strong electorate. From the viewpoint of electoral participation, Saturday’s vote stands as a beacon light for the people to hold their elected government accountable if they feel that their trust has been violated.

Nevertheless, it needs to be recognised that notwithstanding the many criticisms about the imperfect democratic process in Malaysia, the people were evidently able to exercise their right to vote, attend opposition rallies and ventilate in cyberspace. This is definitely a strong vantage point for the nation to advance towards being a free, modern and forward-looking society.

Indeed, this is a rite of passage for Malaysian democracy that marks a new beginning on many fronts. Not least, they include the future of race-based coalition politics, now that three parties – the MIC, Gerakan and PPP – have been undone in this political storm of unprecedented proportions.

In the final analysis, however, the reference point for all electoral renewal is that it must foster the people’s interests in line with the universal values of social justice and equitability.

14.3.2008

24.3.2008

Pope baptizes prominent Muslim

Catholic Online (www.catholic.org)

Vatican City - 23 March 2008 - Italy’s most prominent Muslim journalist, Magdi Allam, became a Catholic during the Vatican’s Easter Vigil.

Converts from other branches of Christianity, other religions, or from no religious background are traditionally received into the Church at Easter Vigil. This year, during the Vigil at the Vatican, Magdi Allam, a well-known commentator in Rome became a Christian.

Allam was not known as a practicing Muslim and has consistently angered his fellow-Muslims with his criticism of extremist activity and support of Israel. He currently serves as the deputy editor of the Corriere della Sera newspaper, and often writes on Muslim and Arab issues.

"I was never practicing," he told the Il Giornale newspaper. "I never prayed five times a day, facing Mecca. I never fasted during Ramadan." He did, however, make the pilgrimage to Mecca in 1991with his mother, a deeply committed Muslim, as is required of all followers.

News of his conversion did not bring strong reaction from the Muslim community in Italy. The Union of Islamic Communities in Italy called Allam’s baptism a personal choice. "He is an adult, free to make his personal choice," according to the group's spokesman, Issedin El Zir, in an interview with the Apcom news agency.

During this year’s Easter Vigil the Pople Baptized seven adults among those being received.

Allam received death threats for his pro-Israel stance and has even calling Israel a paradigm of right to life. In 2006, Allam was a co-winner, with three other journalists, of the $1 million Dan David prize for "his ceaseless work in fostering understanding and tolerance between cultures." The prize was named for the Israeli entrepreneur of the same name.

Allam is married to a Catholic and has a young son. He also has two adult children from a prior marriage. The journalist told Il Giornali that he would have no problem converting to Christianity.