Bishops keep mum over meeting's proceedings
Terence NettoPublished: Jan 15, 2010 10:43 AM | Updated: Jan 15, 2010 10:55 AM
The four-day biannual meeting of the Catholic Bishops Conference of Malaysia ended in Plentong, Johor, today with no statement made on the 'Allah' issue that has roiled the nation the last two weeks.
The four-day biannual meeting of the Catholic Bishops Conference of Malaysia ended in Plentong, Johor, today with no statement made on the 'Allah' issue that has roiled the nation the last two weeks.
Since a High Court decision on Dec 31 allowing Catholic publication, Herald, to use the word in their Malay editions, a series of arson attacks on churches has occurred. Also, one Sikh temple was stoned.
The bishops' meeting is convened twice a year and focuses exclusively on ecclesiastical matters.
"Their position was mum's the word," said an informed source of the proceedings that began late on Monday and ended before lunch today.
"The issue was the subject of conversation over dinner but was untouched during formal discussions during the meeting proper," added the source who requested anonymity.
"The Bishops' stance is that the matter is in the appellate courts and they await the outcome as Christians are counseled to in straits like this by rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation and persevering in prayer," the source said.
Priest turns rejects opposition visit
Meanwhile, parish priest Fr Michael Teng Sun Tong of the Church of St Elizabeth in Kota Tinggi, whose gates were daubed in red paint on Wednesday, declined to receive a visit of sympathy from DAP state chairman Dr Boo Cheng Hau and his deputy Norman Fernandez.
Scudai assemblyman Dr Boo and Fernandez this morning tried to call on the church intending to donate to the repaint works but Fr Michael was loath to accept their overture, fearing that the issue would be politicised.
A spokesman at the bishop's office of the Malacca-Johor diocese said that canon law allowed a priest autonomy to decide matters such as Fr Michael was faced with.
Since a High Court decision on Dec 31 allowing Catholic publication, Herald, to use the word in their Malay editions, a series of arson attacks on churches has occurred. Also, one Sikh temple was stoned.
The bishops' meeting is convened twice a year and focuses exclusively on ecclesiastical matters.
"Their position was mum's the word," said an informed source of the proceedings that began late on Monday and ended before lunch today.
"The issue was the subject of conversation over dinner but was untouched during formal discussions during the meeting proper," added the source who requested anonymity.
"The Bishops' stance is that the matter is in the appellate courts and they await the outcome as Christians are counseled to in straits like this by rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation and persevering in prayer," the source said.
Priest turns rejects opposition visit
Meanwhile, parish priest Fr Michael Teng Sun Tong of the Church of St Elizabeth in Kota Tinggi, whose gates were daubed in red paint on Wednesday, declined to receive a visit of sympathy from DAP state chairman Dr Boo Cheng Hau and his deputy Norman Fernandez.Scudai assemblyman Dr Boo and Fernandez this morning tried to call on the church intending to donate to the repaint works but Fr Michael was loath to accept their overture, fearing that the issue would be politicised.
A spokesman at the bishop's office of the Malacca-Johor diocese said that canon law allowed a priest autonomy to decide matters such as Fr Michael was faced with.
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