Malaysian realities: View from the street

 Christianity, Development issues, Ethnic and inter-religious relations, Islam, Malaysian history, Sustainable development  5 Responses »
Feb 202011
 
Malaysian realities: View from the street

This was the sort of day for me that encapsulated a lot of what it means to be Malaysian today. Interfaith dialogue, understanding one another In the afternoon, I dropped by at the St Anne’s Catholic Church in Bukit Mertajam, which was holding a dialogue session with Dr Dzul, the MP for Kuala Selangor and Pas central committee member. This is Dr Dzul engaging in open and frank dialogue with Fr Henry Rajoo, the parish priest over some of the contentious issues in Malaysia. This was a dialogue and not a debate, the crowd was told. The mood was one of willingness to listen to the other’s point of view, trying to get to know and understand one another.

Egypt: Christians, Muslims for freedom

 Africa, Christianity, Democracy, Ethnic and inter-religious relations, Global justice movement, Human rights, Islam, Universal spiritual values  6 Responses »
Feb 072011
 

More images and accounts have emerged of the Muslim-Christian understanding on the streets calling for a new dawn in Egypt. See another picture here. And see this Reuters video. This is an except from an Irish Times report: MUSLIMS PRAYED with Christians yesterday in Tahrir Square at the heart of Cairo. A priest from Egypt’s ancient Coptic rite held high a cross, read verses from the Bible and in a deep, sonorous voice led hymn singing. The mostly Muslim throng joined in, familiar with the Arabic phrases the faiths share.

Muslim-Christian solidarity in Tahrir Sq

 Africa, Christianity, Democracy, Ethnic and inter-religious relations, Human rights, Islam  20 Responses »
Feb 062011
 
Muslim-Christian solidarity in Tahrir Sq

Muslims prayed while Christians protected them. And today, Muslims returned the favour as they stood guard around Christians participating in a Sunday service. Tahrir Square continues to witness remarkable scenes of inter-religious solidarity in the struggle for freedom and justice. See another picture here. And see this Reuters video. Remember this renewed solidarity is happening in a land where a Coptic Church in Alexandria was attacked on 1 January 2011 in a suicide bombing, killing 23 and injuring 97. thedailynewsegypt.com reports: CAIRO: Christians and Muslims recited in unison the “Our Father” prayer in Tahrir on Sunday, a day intended to commemorate those killed in pro-democracy protests since Jan. 25.

Allah issue: Long wait for appeal date

 Christianity, Ethnic and inter-religious relations, Islam, Judiciary, Media  8 Responses »
Jan 192011
 

One year on, and the Allah issue is still in limbo. Or rather we are still waiting for the Court of Appeal to fix a date for the government’s appeal against the High Court’s landmark decision in favour of the church. For now, though, the Catholic Church’s weekly Herald tabloid is unable to use the term ‘Allah’ as the government has obtained a stay pending appeal. Meanwhile, the Church has reprinted a rare Malay-Latin dictionary, first published in 1631, which shows that Christianity was already using local languages in the region four centuries ago.

‘Much ado about nothing,’ says Herald

 Christianity, Ethnic and inter-religious relations  39 Responses »
Jan 062011
 
'Much ado about nothing,' says Herald

The latest Catholic Herald weekly has carried a report seeking to downplay the Christmas tea party controversy. Meanwhile Special Officer to the Prime Minister Hardev Kaur has expressed regret in a Malaysian Insider report here and here. It was not an instruction but just a ‘request’ or suggestion, on her own initiative, for symbols to be removed from the rostrum, she claims. (The Insider has disabled comments to these reports.) Hardev is an officer in the Finance Ministry (which is headed by Najib) and formerly Group Editor of NST. Here’s the Herald report, written by someone who attended the tea party: Much Ado About Nothing! Published on: January 06, 2011 at 11:30 AM KUALA LUMPUR: No crucifixes were taken down as there were no crucifixes mounted anywhere in the car park area fronting the residence of the Archbishop Murphy Pakiam. It is surprising that those who carried the news report [Read more]

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