Courageous Heart: Catholic

Showing posts with label Catholic. Show all posts

Thursday, July 17, 2014

Chick-Fil-A Surpasses KFC As Dominant US Fast Food Chicken Chain

Published on 17 July 2014 by Malaysian Digest.

It’s the fast food chicken chain that most consumers outside the US have never heard of. But inside America, the wild popularity of family-owned chain Chick-fil-A has been identified as a threat to major fast food behemoths like McDonald’s and has even surpassed chicken giant KFC.

The title of a recently released market report for McDonald’s says it all: Chick-fil-A a Serious and Growing Competitive Threat.

Written by financial services firm Janney, the report notes that the privately owned company held a 26 per cent market share of the fast food chicken industry in 2013 — up from nine per cent in 1999.

For comparison, in 1999, Yum! brand’s KFC enjoyed a comfortable lead with a 40 per cent share of the market. Today, that’s down to 22 per cent, several percentage points below Chick-fil-A and enough to make the Colonel turn in his grave.

The recently released results of Consumer Reports' annual fast food ranking corroborates the popularity of Chick-fil-A, as respondents gave the brand top billing in the category of chicken sandwiches.

KFC landed at the bottom of the heap, after other chains like Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen, Zaxby’s and Church’s Chicken. Chick-fil-A found success carving out a niche market selling deep-fried chicken sandwiches, nuggets and wraps since 1946.

The brand's success is all the more impressive given that KFC possesses more than double the number of outlets as its counterpart. While Chick-fil-A has 1,790 restaurants in 39 states and Washington DC, KFC has 4,500 outposts across the country.

Furthermore, all Chick-fil-A restaurants close system-wide close on Sundays — or “Lord’s Day” — as part of founder S. Truett Cathy’s religious beliefs.

Meanwhile, the Janney report issues some stern warnings to fast food giant McDonald’s, which also offers a slew of chicken-based items on its menu. While the chain is described as a relatively “small fry” compared to worldwide sales at McDonald’s, the report notes that KFC didn’t see Chick-fil-A's success coming a decade ago either.

In 2013, McDonald’s generated US$36 billion (RM115b) in systemwide sales, versus US$5 billion at Chick-fil-A. “While Chick-fil-A remains meaningfully smaller than McDonald’s US today, to the extent it could be ignored as a competitive threat ten years ago, we would argue that it can no longer be ignored as a long-term competitive threat today,” analysts write.

Here are the top 10 fast food brands in the US by sales in 2013:
1. McDonald's
2. Subway
3. Starbucks
4. Wendy's
5. Burger King
6.Taco Bell
7. Dunkin' Donuts
8. Pizza Hut
9. Chick-fil-A
10. Applebee's

- AFP-Relaxnews

Link: http://www.malaysiandigest.com/features/509503-chick-fil-a-surpasses-kfc-as-dominant-us-fast-food-chicken-chain.html

The members of the Cathy family have never made a secret of their religious faith. What they haven’t talked about nearly as much is the political implications of that faith. That changed on June 16, when Dan Cathy, having grown up from dwarf performer to Chick-fil-A’s president, went on a syndicated radio show and said, “I think we are inviting God’s judgment on our nation when we shake our fist at him and say, ‘We know better than you as to what constitutes a marriage.’” Two weeks later an interview with Cathy was published in a North Carolina Baptist newsweekly called the Biblical Recorder. In it, he said his company was “very much supportive of the family—the biblical definition of the family unit.” For the younger Cathy, just as for the majority of the delegates to the Southern Baptist Convention, the biblical definition of the family unit meant one thing: a man, a woman, and their children. When Southern Baptist publications use the words “same-sex marriage” and “gay marriage,” they bracket them in quotes.

Link:

http://www.businessweek.com/articles/2012-08-02/chick-fil-a-deep-fried-civil-war#p1

The fast food restaurant of a thousand lands is the work of Erik DeVriendt, the owner/operator of this Chick-fil-A since June 2011. Since moving to Richmond in 2006, DeVriendt has wielded his vocational skills to address the needs of Richmond's refugee population: namely, steady and life-giving employment. Including Jirom, DeVriendt has employed some 13 refugees for his 67-employee team, often receiving referrals from Commonwealth Catholic Charities, the local resettlement agency. The agency helps with paperwork and training, but DeVriendt is not incented financially for hiring refugees. He simply wanted to "help them in the most tangible way possible, so we stepped up to the plate and took a swing."

Link: http://www.christianitytoday.com/thisisourcity/richmond/another-kind-of-christian-witness-at-chick-fil-a.html?paging=off

Monday, June 30, 2014

It’s all a political game in Allah row

By Stephen Ng. 30 June 2014.

Although the Christian community in the country has been made the scapegoat, things have to be put into perspective for the sake of unity and harmony. Both the Alkitab and the Sikh scriptures use Allah as a name referring to God, but only the Christian scripture is being targeted, ridiculed and confiscated.

Despite having only the flimsiest argument against the use of the name Allah by non-Muslims, the religious bigots calling themselves “champions of Islam” continue to victimise the Christians in this country. They say that when the name Allah is used in the Alkitab, it confuses the Muslim community.

Exactly who are these Muslims being referred to? Why is that Muslims in Malaysia can be easily confused when Muslims around the world have no problem with the name being used by other religious communities?No one, including the man behind the 1Malaysia slogan, who promised Muslim NGOs that he would defend the exclusive use of “Allah” by Muslims, has ever quoted any part of the Quran that prohibits non-Muslims from using the name Allah.

Instead, Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim and former Kelantan Menteri Besar Nik Aziz Nik Mat who, disagreeing with Umno ministers, quoted the Prophet as saying: “Our Allah and your Allah is one.”

Tracing back the Allah controversy, Mahathir, who was then Home Minister, was the first to ban the Indonesian Alkitab in 1982, barely one year after he became the fourth Prime Minister. This has helped him achieve his objectives. In his early years, Mahathir had initially faced resistance from within Umno, especially those who were Malays and pro-Tunku (Abdul Rahman). By making it illegal to possess or distribute the Alkitab, Mahathir managed to consolidate his power with the support of the Malays by championing Islam.

Different scenario

In 1986, when Mahathir was again challenged by Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah from Team B, he saw another opportunity to use the same tactic to unite the Muslims to defend his position. Within the next few years, one state enactment after another was passed. The rest is history.

Today, the scenario is different. In 2007, when Home Minister Syed Hamid Albar slapped a prohibition order on the Herald, it kick-started a lengthy and painful litigation, which ended in the controversial Federal Court ruling.

Although the Catholic Herald was never intended for proselytisation of Muslims, it earned the ire of authorities because of the Bahasa Malaysia section that is supposed to cater to the Catholic congregation in East Malaysia. Most of us who are not Catholics have never even heard of the Catholic Herald until the High Court ruling in 2008.

How could the publication be used to proselytise the Muslims? It’s all an Umno game. The same observation is made by Shah Alam MP, Khalid Abdul Samad, who openly said that Umno is using the same strategy to attack the Pakatan Rakyat Selangor government.

There you go! The same reason is what motivated the Selangor Islamic Religious Department (Jais) to raid the Bible Society of Malaysia (BSM) and a Hindu wedding. Apart from Perkasa, Ikatan Muslimin Malaysia (Isma) has been very vocal. Along with Mais, it was involved in a Christian-bashing seminar held at UiTM.

Government script

We cannot blame the BN government for everything that is happening today. Our fellow citizens in East Malaysia have voted the present regime into power. Although it was Syed Hamid who first prohibited the Catholic Herald from using the name Allah, now, the East Malaysian churches cannot blame the Federal Court decision for ruling that Allah is now a banned word as far as all non-Muslims are concerned, since its decision is binding on a lower court and the Federal Court is the supreme authority in this country.

No state, including Sabah and Sarawak, can cushion itself against the ruling of the Federal Court. The moment a group of Muslim extremists in Sabah or Sarawak complain against the church for using the name Allah, or choose to bring this matter to the court, the decision by the apex court will be binding.

As usual, after the apex court ruling, the government read out its part of the script: “Christians can still use the term ‘Allah’ in their churches and (we are still) committed to the 10-point solution.” Let it be known that no amount of balm from Putrajaya will be able to comfort the non-Muslim community, unless the Federal Court’s decision is overturned.

For our Muslim brethren, Ramadan is a good time to get close to God. Our God is a great God, who will forgive when we turn to Him. I would not risk using the name Allah here, but you know I am referring to the One and Almighty God.

Link: http://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/highlight/2014/06/30/its-all-a-political-game-in-allah-row/

Wednesday, June 25, 2014

Mais has refused to comply with instruction of AG & state government

By Md Izwan. Published by The Malaysian Insider on 25 June 2014.

The Selangor Islamic Religious Council (Mais) today insisted it will continue to seize Bibles that contained the word Allah in the state, adding that it had every right to destroy the holy books it had already seized earlier this year from the Bible Society of Malaysia (BSM).

Its chairman Datuk Mohamad Adzib Mohd Isa (pic) said operations to counter the distribution of such Bibles in Selangor will continue and warned that it will not hesitate to arrest those distributing it. "This process will go on and we will also make arrests," he said in his speech at an event in the Tabung Haji Complex in Kuala Lumpur today.

Adzib also stressed that Mais will not accept the decision of Attorney-General Tan Sri Abdul Gani Patail in the seizure of the BSM Bibles, adding that it will not return them to the BSM. Gani decided to close the case against BSM after finding the Selangor Islamic Religious Department (Jais) had erred in the seizure of the Bibles, which he said were not a threat to national security as alleged. However, Mais has refused to comply with instruction from the A-G and the state government but instead said that it would be getting a court order to dispose of the holy books.

The religious council said that it will not close the case as was ordered by Gani and insisted that there is a provision in the 1988 state enactment to charge BSM. Adzib today said that although the council would accept the A-G's decision not to prosecute BSM but it maintained that the reason given not to take action against the society was not valid. "We accept the decision not to prosecute as it is under the purview of the A-G. But we do not agree with the reasons he gave," he added.

"On the seized Bibles, actually Jais could dispose it themselves. But because we care about harmony and justice, we leave it to the prosecutor to decide."

On January 2 this year, Jais seized the 321 AlKitab (Bahasa Malaysia Bible) and Bup Kudus (Iban-language Bible) from the then BSM office in Damansara Kim, sparking an outcry and criticisms aimed at the religious authority.

Published by The Malay Mail Online on 23 June 2014.

Malaysian Christians are free to call their God “Allah” in churches, a government official said today, reiterating the Najib administration’s commitment to its 10-point solution from 2011... The official stressed that the Federal Court’s decision only upheld a ban on the Catholic Church from publishing the word in its newspaper, Herald. “Malaysia is a multi-faith country and it is important that we manage our differences peacefully, in accordance with the rule of law and through dialogue, mutual respect and compromise,” the statement added.

Christians make up about 10 per cent of the Malaysian population of 30 million. Almost two-thirds of the Christians are Bumiputera and live in Sabah and Sarawak, where they routinely use Bahasa Malaysia and indigenous languages in their religious practices, which include describing God as “Allah” in their prayers and holy book.

Christian groups and churches nationwide voiced concern today over the validity of the government’s 10-point solution allowing the distribution of Christian bibles containing the word “Allah” in the select states in the wake of the Federal Court’s refusal to hear an appeal on the usage of the word.

Bishop Datuk Dr Thomas Tsen, president of the Sabah Council of Churches, said the Federal Court’s decision in dismissing the Catholic church’s application to appeal the government ban on the word “Allah” in its weekly was a “huge disappointment”.

“People will bring this decision of the highest court and say no, even though the prime minister has the 10-point solution, the highest court still says you cannot freely use the term ‘Allah’ to address your God,” Tsen told The Malay Mail Online today.

“Even though the prime minister did say this will not affect East Malaysia, it’s no guarantee because this is the law. And we wanted the guarantee from the legal side,” he said. Tsen said Christians in Sabah and Sarawak have for centuries worshipped in the Malay language and have been using the Al-Kitab replete with the word Allah to refer to God. “Our freedom of religion is being restricted,” he said. “Since we were born, we have been using the term. That is our language,” Tsen added.

He also expressed concern that the Selangor Islamic authorities might use the Federal Court ruling to justify their seizure of 321 copies of the Malay and Iban-language bibles from the Bible Society of Malaysia (BSM) last January.

A seven-member bench at the country’s highest court decided by a 4-to-3 majority this morning to deny the Catholic Church the right to appeal a lower court decision preventing it from using the word ‘Allah’.

Chief Justice Tun Arifin Zakaria, Court of Appeal President Tan Sri Md Raus Sharif, Chief Judge of Malaya Tan Sri Zulkefli Ahmad Makinudin and Federal Court judge Tan Sri Suriyadi Halim Omar had rejected the Catholic Church’s application.

The dissenting judges were Chief Judge of Sabah and Sarawak Tan Sri Richard Malanjum, and Federal Court judges Datuk Zainun Ali and Tan Sri Jeffrey Tan.

Last year, the Court of Appeal ruled that “Allah” was not integral to the Christian faith and that the home minister was justified in banning the Herald from using the Arabic word on grounds of national security and public order... The Cabinet, through Minister Datuk Seri Idris Jala, stated in the resolution that the large Bumiputera Christian population in Sabah and Sarawak could use their holy books in the Malay, Indonesian, and indigenous languages.

Tuesday, March 25, 2014

#Allah: Government figures suggest Christianisation did not happen

By Leven Woon. Published by Free Malaysia Today on 24 March 2014.

The widely-touted theory that Christianisation is taking place in Malaysia cannot be valid when official data suggests that no Muslim has converted to Christianity in the last 10 years, said Kampar MP Ko Chung Sen.

He said according to a government reply in Parliament today, no Muslim including those who are new converts to Islam had renounced the religion. This was based on Syariah Court records whereby no such applications had been received.

There were however, applications by individuals seeking to verify conflicting recording of their religion status on their birth certificate and identity card.

“A lot of them have said Islam is under threat, Christiantionisation is happening in the country. But actual figures suggest that none of this has ever happened in this country,” Ko told FMT.

He said politicians and NGO’s should not raise the spectre of Christianophobia out of thin air, and should only speak based on concrete evidence. “And this figure comes from the Prime Minister’s Department,” he said.

Meanwhile, the ministry said there were at least 4,520 individuals who had embraced Islam between 2008 -2012.

Thursday, March 20, 2014

What has happen to religious freedom?

By Colby Itkowitz. Published by The Washington Post on 18 March 2014.

A congressional hearing on the Air Force budget turned into a debate about religious freedom on Friday when some Republicans demanded to know why a cadet was made to erase a religious message he’d written on a dry-erase board in his Air Force Academy dorm.

Randy Forbes (R-Va.) jousted with Secretary of the Air Force Deborah James over the facts of the incident, which Forbes originally heard about from news reports (our Google research shows this story was mostly covered by right-leaning outlets).

As the story goes, a cadet had written on a whiteboard: “I have been crucified with Christ, and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.”

In the version Forbes relayed, the “entire” Air Force chain of command told the cadet to erase the quote from his whiteboard in his private room. James said it was her understanding that another cadet, who felt uncomfortable went straight to the source, and the cadet who wrote it voluntarily took it down.

At the House Armed Services Committee hearing, Forbes asserted that religious freedom “is not to make sure no person on the planet is offended, it’s to say that cadet ought to have the right in an own personal board to put that verse up there.”

Gen. Mark Welsh III, chief of staff of the Air Force, jumped in and said the whiteboard in question is not located in the cadets’ rooms, but rather in a shared hallway. There have been “hundreds of quotes” removed from the public board, he said.

“What you said is absolutely true. Every cadet has a right to free religious expression, but if someone else comes to him and says that bothers me, and they have that discussion — if that’s happened, I would compliment both of them,” Welsh said. Then added, “We’ve got to get the facts straight.”

Forbes told the Loop in an e-mail that he remains “deeply concerned” that the Air Force is teaching that religious expression is “incompatible with effective leadership.”

After Friday’s hearing, the Air Force Academy sought to clear up the facts. On its own Web site the academy clarifies that the cadet was not ordered to take down the message, but did so on his own after a conversation with the chain of command.

Not every Republican was so dour about the situation. Providing some levity to the hearing debate, Rep. Rob Bishop (R-Utah), asked the secretary, “if I am offended by your budget, will you take it down?”

Link: http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/in-the-loop/wp/2014/03/18/air-force-budget-hearing-debates-religious-freedom/

The President of the Catholic League has called for a boycott of Guinness, Heineken and Sam Adams for pulling their sponsorship of St. Patrick’s Day parades in New York and Boston that barred LGBT groups from marching.

In a statement issued Monday calling for a boycott, Donohue called the beer makers bullies and said groups shouldn’t be allowed to march under their own banners in St. Patrick’s Day parades.

“The parade is quintessentially Catholic, beginning with a Mass in St. Patrick’s Cathedral. It is this Catholic element that angers those who are engaged in a bullying campaign against the St. Patrick’s Day parades. The bullies also have nothing but contempt for the constitutional rights of Irish Catholics.”

Catholic League President Bill Donohue’s statement came after Guinness and Heineken withdrew their sponsorship of New York’s St. Patrick’s Day parade, and the maker of Sam Adams decided not to sponsor the Boston St. Patrick’s Day parade. Both parades refused to let LGBT groups openly march.

“Guinness has a strong history of supporting diversity and being an advocate for equality for all. We were hopeful that the policy of exclusion would be reversed for this year’s parade. As this has not come to pass, Guinness has withdrawn its participation,” Guinness said in a statement. The mayors of Boston and New York, Marty Walsh (D) and Bill de Blasio (D) also boycotted the parades.

Link: http://time.com/30126/catholic-league-president-calls-for-beer-boycott-over-lgbt-rights/

Sunday, January 26, 2014

'Allah' rings out in Malaysian churches despite ban

By Julia Zappei. Publised by AFP on 26 January 2014.

Malaysian churches defiantly continued to use the word "Allah" to refer to the Christian God in Sunday services despite the Muslim-majority country's leader saying they must obey rules against it.

Malay-speaking Christians prayed and sang hymns using the Arabic word, a practice they have observed for hundreds of years but now the focus of an increasingly tense religious row in the Southeast Asian nation.

"They all contain the word 'Allah'," a pastor at a church near the capital Kuala Lumpur said of the songs sung by his congregation.

"(The Malay-language Bible) contains the word 'Allah'. When we preach we have to read the text. It's a really difficult situation," he added, speaking on condition of anonymity due to the passions surrounding the issue.

Under pressure from Muslim conservatives, Prime Minister Najib Razak said on Friday that Malaysian Christians must heed rules forbidding them from using the word.

Islamist leaders in the country say "Allah" -- which also is used by Malay Muslims to refer to their creator -- is exclusive to their religion and must not be used by non-Muslims.

Muslim ethnic Malays make up more than 60 percent of the diverse country's 28 million people.

Malaysia has sizeable ethnic Chinese, Indian and other communities. About 2.6 million people are Christians.

Church leaders have vowed not to back down.

"Christians in Malaysia have no choice but to use the Malay-language Bibles. To say they cannot use these bibles, it means saying 'you are not allowed to worship in the language that you want'," Rev. Hermen Shastri, general secretary of the Council of Churches of Malaysia, told AFP.

The government in 2007 ordered a Malaysian Catholic weekly newspaper to cease use of the word, arguing it could entice Muslims to convert, which is illegal for adherents of Islam in Malaysia.

The newspaper has launched a long-running court challenge, angering Muslim conservatives, who have demanded Christians use alternative Malay words.

"Why insist? They have an option. They don't really have to use 'Allah' to worship," said Yusri Mohamad, chairman of Muslim rights group Pembela. "This is unnecessary provocation... This is not healthy for Malaysia."

Muslim conservatives have suggested Christians use other Malay words, such as "Tuhan", to refer to God.

Malaysia has avoided overt religious conflict for decades and is generally seen as a moderate Muslim country. But non-Muslims allege growing intolerance by influential Islamic conservatives.

"We feel angry. It's unfair," a Christian church-goer said after Sunday's service. "It's no longer peaceful between Christians and Muslims now."

The Malaysian Catholic church argues "Allah" has been used by Christians in the country for hundreds of years and that the word predates Islam's founding.

Tensions sparked by the issue triggered a spate of attacks in 2010 on places of worship, mostly churches.

Najib's Muslim-dominated government responded in 2011 with a compromise allowing Christians limited use of the word. But he backed away from that Friday, saying the compromise was subservient to state laws and royal decrees forbidding non-Muslim use of "Allah".

Those rules have historically been rarely enforced. But as pressure from Muslim conservatives rose, Islamic authorities cited one such law earlier this month to seize hundreds of Bibles from a Christian group.

Link: http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5hRNLzYUvB1n-A21QVnBbm7kwuVZw?docId=3f8319f5-31fe-4616-ba93-8e2ab36d8a51

By Lee Shi-Ian. Published by The Malaysian Insider on 26 January 2014.

While Putrajaya dithers over the 'Allah' issue, a group of ordinary Malaysians gathered today to promote inter-faith solidarity and peace at the Kuala Lumpur City Centre Park.

Dressed in purple, they handed out flowers, candies and bookmarks in the hope of promoting diversity in Malaysia.

Social activist Azrul Mohd Khalib said the 'Allah' issue, allegations of conversion and propagation of Muslims are all threatening to tear apart the fabric of Malaysia’s multi-cultural community. "The individuals who are currently speaking on these issues are not promoting national unity and solidarity in the country. Instead, they are promoting hate and distrust, and pushing the various ethnic groups into their respective communities," Azrul said while explaining that they had picked purple as they wanted to use it to symbolise religious tolerance among the different races.

"We must reject this hatred, we believe in a pluralistic society, one which is united regardless of different creed, religion and race."

Cynthia from Petaling Jaya told The Malaysian Insider that the gathering was a fantastic way of showing that they all loved Malaysia. "I decided to participate in today's gathering because I want to do something positive and help build the nation."

Cheryl Fernandez, 50, said she supported peace in Malaysia and did not want to see the country torn apart. "The keywords for today’s outing are diversity and solidarity," said the Kuala Lumpur native.

Anna Koh, also from the capital, said she wanted unity for Malaysia, not division. "I believe that the ordinary rakyat do not want to be divided. Everyone wants peace and harmony," said the 52-year-old.

Tengku Yasmin Nastasha, 16, was spotted by The Malaysian Insider handing out flowers to visitors at the KLCC Park. "I want to celebrate peace and solidarity for Malaysians. I like peace and I feel there is no need for all these unnecessary commotions," she said.

Her mother, Nik Elin, 52, said she had been part of the mixed-faith solidarity group which had gathered at the Church of Our Lady of Lourdes in Klang three weeks ago. "I think that Malaysia needs a lot of healing and what better way than to give peace and love? Peace and solidarity are the key ingredients if we want to celebrate diversity," said Nik Elin.

On January 5, Azrul co-coordinated the solidarity gathering at the Church of Our Lady of Lourdes in Klang. He said that the purpose of the gathering was borne out of concern over the state of religious freedom in Malaysia...

After a long silence on the 'Allah' issue, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak finally roused himself to say that the use of the word 'Allah' was up to the states. His statement was met with bitter disappointment and indignation from various quarters including the Council of Churches Malaysia and the whole Christian community.

Monday, January 20, 2014

Raging Prices Require Towering Infernos To Mask Them

The worst kept secret in town is that Umno is not averse to lighting fires and giving free rein to zealots to stoke them. The U.Must.Not.Object ruling-party-for-life has no lack of luminaries to lead the cavalry. Tan Sri Harussani Zakaria, Datuk Hasan Ali, Datuk Ibrahim Ali and Datuk Zulkifli Noordin are foremost among Umno's cast of villains. Not forgetting Melayu tulen Dr Ridhuan Tee Abdullah, never mind that he allegedly plagiarised the work of one Airil Yasreen Yassin for his doctorate. Among Malay Muslim NGOs, Isma, Jati and Pekida stand out as loud defenders of the faith.

Why all this emotion-mongering even though the next general election is not due for at least four more years? Truth be told, Datuk Seri Najib Razak (if he is still prime minister then) may not be obliged to call GE14 until 2018, but he can't determine when the next by-election falls due.

Raging prices require towering infernos to mask them so that struggling Muslim Malays do not abandon Barisan Nasional (BN) for Pakatan Rakyat (PR) in the polling booth.

Enter kalimah Allah. The controversy has not only diverted the citizenry's anxiety over the spate of price spikes, but also shoved other issues to the back burner. Faith and religion has drowned out erstwhile widespread noises on the Shiah crackdown, the alleged wrongdoings of the attorney-general in the Pulau Batu Puteh case, the RM110 million condominium purchase by Najib's stepson, and a looming national debt crisis, among other major concerns. Not only has the word pitted Muslims against Christians (and Sikhs too, for now) but also placed liberal and militant Muslims at loggerheads.

Catholics must stay strong in their faith as they face attacks from various groups over the use of the word “Allah”, said Archibishop Emeritus Tan Sri Murphy Pakiam. The senior church leader, who is now administrator of the Archdiocese of Kuala Lumpur, said that recent events where offensive words were used and an effigy of Herald editor Father Lawrence Andrew was burned, were “tantamount to an attack against the Christian community”.

“It is deplorable that certain groups also wish to organise mega demonstrations and road shows. These insensible actions by groups of persons have caused a great deal of unease, anxiety and even anger among Malaysians,” he said in a pastoral letter dated yesterday.

“Furthermore, the endorsement of such actions by certain political leaders and the unexplained silence of others only add fuel to a fire that seems to be spreading uncontrollably. We cannot accept or tolerate any group that promotes division, discord and disharmony in society. I call upon the Catholic faithful to be strong through these adversities and continue to profess our faith with courage and determination,” Pakiam added.

Tuesday, January 7, 2014

Priest reveals proof Christians used ‘Allah’ before Merdeka

By Jennifer Gomez. Published by The Malaysian Insider on 7 January 2014.

A century-old Catholic prayer book is the latest proof that Christians in the Malay peninsula not only prayed in Malay more than 100 years ago, but also communicated with each other and the church in the language, says a priest at the centre of a new “Allah” row in Malaysia.

Catholic weekly Herald editor Father Lawrence Andrew said the 1905 publication was a Malay language prayer book and not Indonesian. "From the spelling of the words, you would see it is old Malay. And you can find the modern translation of the old Malay used in the scripture in the Alkitab," he told The Malaysian Insider.

His church and other Catholic churches in Selangor managed to avoid disruption to their Sunday services when planned protests by certain Muslim non-governmental organisations were called off over their use of the word “Allah” in the Bahasa Malaysia services.

Andrew said the prayer book quoted the First Letter of Peter, one of the verses in old Malay read: “Rendahkanlah diri mu dibawah tangan berkuasa Allah itu, sopaia dia angkatkanlah kamu di waktu katemuannha." In the Akitab, the verse read: “Oleh itu, rendahkanlah diri kamu ke bawah tangan Allah yang berkuasa, supaya Dia meninggikan kamu pada masa yang ditetapkan-Nya.”

The priest reiterated it was particularly important for Malay-speaking Christians to be able to pray in Malay, especially for those from Sabah and Sarawak who were living in the peninsula.

"There seems to be a general misconception that the use of the word is a new trend in the Christian faith, but that is not true. It has been used for hundreds of years. And this prayer book is just one example that Catholics in Malaya were praying in Malay before the British came and English was widely used, alongside Malay by the East Malaysians," Andrew said.

He said the Malay prayer book was mailed to him by the daughter of its owner not long ago.

In a hand-written note that came with the prayer book titled "Kabaktian Sahari-harian" (Daily Prayer), the sender wrote: "This book belonged to Mary De Silva who was a boarder in the convent at St Anne's church, Bukit Mertajam, around the year 1919, where this book was used. Now the book belongs to her daughter Lily De Silva who lives with her son in Penang".

Putrajaya won its case last October against the Herald at the Court of Appeal, which overturned a 2009 High Court ruling that Herald has the constitutional right to use the word “Allah”.

The church is appealing against the decision at the Federal Court.

Despite the court process, tensions have risen in the past few weeks over the church's use of the word “Allah” in its Bahasa Malaysia service, leading to the prospect of demonstrations outside churches.

It is understood more than 80 police reports have been lodged against Andrew over his remark that the word “Allah” would continue to be used in Catholic churches in Selangor.

His comments came following a statement from the new director of the Selangor Islamic Affairs Department (Jais), Ahmad Zaharin Mohd Saad, who had said that the state religious authorities would write to churches in Selangor asking them to comply with the Selangor Non-Islamic Religions (Control of Propagation among Muslims) Enactment 1988.

Andrew’s comments resulted in several Muslim groups and Selangor Umno threatening to protest in front of churches in the state on Sunday but the protests were called off at the last minute.

But not before a group of protesters burned an effigy of Andrew on Friday. Still, the priest in his Sunday sermon, called on his congregation not to fear and to remain faithful to God.

Andrew is to meet Selangor executive councillor in charge of religion, Sallehen Mukhyi, and later he will have his statement recorded by Selangor police. Yesterday, he accompanied Archbishop Emeritus Tan Sri Murphy Pakiam for a meeting with the Selangor police chief Datuk Mohd Shukri Dahlan over the recent religious conflict involving the Catholic church and several Muslim groups. Today, Andrew will have his statement recorded.

Link: http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/priest-reveals-proof-christians-used-allah-before-merdeka

Sunday, January 5, 2014

Shame on you UMNO bigots!

A coalition of Muslim non-governmental organisations, Klang Muslim Solidarity Secretariat, gathered at the Sultan Sulaiman Stadium on Sunday to protest the use of the word "Allah" by Christians.The coalition was protesting a statement allegedly made by Catholic priest and editor of The Herald weekly Father Lawrence Andrew, who had reportedly said that churches in Selangor would continue to use the word 'Allah' in reference to God in their weekend services. His remark sparked protests from several Muslim non-governmental bodies, including Selangor Umno members.

UMNO Kapar division deputy chief Datuk Saroni Judi said Sunday that Father Lawrence must apologise or face a “mega-demonstration” displaying their dissatisfaction. The issue came to the fore after the Selangor Islamic Religious Department (Jais) officers raided and seized 351 copies of Bahasa Malaysia and Iban language versions of the Bible which contained the word 'Allah' from the Bible Society of Malaysia on Thursday.

Jais had earlier reminded all churches in Selangor to comply with the prohibition on the use of the word 'Allah' as provided for under the Selangor Non-Islamic Religions (Control of Propagation Among Muslims) Enactment 1988. "This is us Muslims giving our support to Jais to conduct raids and uphold the law against churches so that the latter complies with state laws," Saroni said.

Datin Paduka Marina Mahathir took a swipe at the country's leadership for the handling of the JAIS raid and the Allah issue today, saying it is a shame that they are not making a stand against religious tolerence. "Everyone has been complaining that the leadership's silence is deafening. It's far from elegant and certainly incriminating."

"The last time when churches were burnt he wasn't present either," said the daughter of former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, declining to confirm if she was referring to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak.

She described last Thursday's raid conducted by JAIS (Selangor Islamic Religious Department) on the Bible Society of Malaysia as "despicable" and something that should have never happened.

During the raid, about 300 copies of the Bible in the Malay and Iban languages were seized. "You should never enter others' house of worship without permission. I think they (BSM) should go ahead and take legal action against JAIS as they don't have jurisdiction (over Christians)."

"Forget Visit Malaysia 2014, who wants to visit a Bible grabbing country?" said Marina.

Several conservative Malay and Muslim groups also threatened to protest outside churches in Selangor but police persuaded them to demonstrate elsewhere while tightening security around the churches.

Today, Father Andrew also thanked parishioners for getting together and guarding the church over the last two nights. Before and after mass, many parishioners went up to him and held his hands in theirs, offering him words of support and encouragement. One lady, who said she was from rights group Suaram, quietly walked up to him, clasped his hands in hers and said: "You have our support, Father".

More than the usual number of Catholic lawyers also attended the Sunday mass at the church today as a show of support and also to be at hand if any untoward incidents took place. One of them was KL Catholic Lawyers Society president Viola Decruz, who had gone to the church of Our Lady of Lourdes before coming to the church in Port Klang. "It was good to see Muslims there at Our Lady of Lourdes church who did not come to protest but who came to support the church's stand on freedom to be able to practise one's religion," Decruz said.

Another lawyer, Ramesh Supramaniam, said he came to defuse the situation in case protestors turned up. Klang MP Charles Santiago, who came to hear Father Andrew say mass, said when he was at the Our Lady of Lourdes church earlier in the morning, a Muslim wearing a songkok walked up to him and told him, "Please tell your priest we are here to support him". Santiago urged Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak to censure Selangor Umno chief Datuk Seri Noh Omar over his statements on the issue. "He should stop threatening the peace and security in the country. We know that Umno is doing this for its survival but as PM of all people, he should take stern action against Noh Omar," he added.

He also lambasted the burning of Father Andrew's effigy by protesters several days ago. "The Prime Minister must speak up on this issue or risk being labelled an extremist as well," Santiago said. A parishioner, Vanitha, 41, said she was pained to see Father Andrew's effigy being burned. "We are so hurt but we are not going to react because of our faith in God. Those people who did it are answerable to God," she said, looking downcast.

The very people the 'Allah' issue was centred on, the Bahasa Malaysia speaking community in peninsular Malaysia, also expressed sadness over the current goings-on affecting their faith. "How can it come to this. Go to the interiors of Sarawak, we all call God, Allah. We are the same people from those interiors who are here now working in small jobs as factory operators. All we want to do is to earn a decent living and pray in our language. Why are people denying us that basic right," said one mother holding a newborn baby in her arms after attending Father Andrew's mass. Her friend added, "Will they now come to our homes and threaten us like criminals because we use the Alkitab?" she asked, referring to the Malay translation of the Bible.

"Is this the 1Malaysia they are talking about, denying us our right to pray in our own language?" said the woman of Iban origin.

As parishioners left the church compound after Sunday school ended peacefully, it was not quite over yet for the church, in particular for Father Andrew. On Tuesday, he is scheduled to meet Selangor state councillor in charge of Islamic affairs, Sallehin Mukhyi. But he will not be alone. Santiago and Sri Andalas assemblyman Dr Xavier Jeyakumar, who was also in church today, told Father Andrew they would accompany him for the meeting.

Wednesday, December 4, 2013

Persecution of Christians in Malaysia Was Again Raised in the UK Parliament

Published by Free Malaysia Today on 4 December 2013.

Just weeks before Christmas, the alleged persecution of Christians in Malaysia, was again raised in the UK parliament as part of a debate on Christians around the world, with an MP urging its government to look at the right to practice ones’ religion as a human rights issue.

Rutherglen and Hamilton West MP, Tom Greatrex, noted recent worrying signs of such persecution especially in view of Malaysia being “an important” and “strategic” Commonwealth partner for the UK.

“It has had a significant trading and strategic relationship with this country over many years,” he told the House of Commons.

“Because of that background, it is right to be concerned about recent worrying signs in Malaysia, and to draw them to the attention of the Government through this debate,” said Greatrex.

He said the Malaysian Court of Appeals ruling banning the use of the term ‘Allah” a Bahasa Malaysia term refering to God “effectively” meant that the Bible was “outlawed” is some parts of Malaysia.

“Some Christian communities in Malaysia are now very much in fear of not being able to practise their faith without interference, or with limits on their ability to observe their faith in peace.

“They have been banned from using the word “Allah”, which has been used as terminology for God in Malay for centuries. That effectively meant that in some parts of Malaysia the Bible has been outlawed.

“When a concern was raised, or an attempt was made to raise it, in the state legislative assembly in Sarawak, it was ruled out of order and subjudice.

“So the legitimate concerns of Sarawak Christians about the Malaysia agreement that governs the relationship stretching back 50 years between the peninsula and other parts of Malaysia, have effectively been censured,” said Greatrex.

Sermons and firearms

Greatex also pointed out his concern over Sarawak Minister for Islamic Affairs Daud Abdul Rahman’s call for its religious department to be upgraded to a syariah prosecution department and its officers to be equiped with firearms.

He noted that last month the Malaysian Government’s religious affairs department, which is part of the Prime Minister’s office, had reportedly issued a sermon to be read in every mosque in Malaysia, “condemning supposedly liberal forces undermining Islam”.

“The implication taken by many people in Malaysia was that it was aimed at those who practise the Christian faith.

“There is real concern that such behaviour has relatively little to do with religion or the tolerance and understanding that religion can often promote, but that it is about seeking to create supporters who identify with one political party as pro-Islam, and brand their political opponents as anti-Islam.

“That is a dangerous road to take, because it unleashes mindless aggression, prejudice and fear,” he said, adding that the current policies in Malaysia were “effectively” making it “impossible” for people of other religions to practice their faith.

Urging his government and colleagues to act, Greatrex said: “I implore the Minister and his colleagues, when they represent the Government abroad – taking into account the important, specific and specialist relationship between the UK and other countries around the world, such as Malaysia – to use that opportunity to highlight the fact that human rights are also about the right to practise religion without fear of prosecution.

“Although freedom of religion is supposedly guaranteed by Article 11 of the Malaysian constitution, the reality for many is quite different,” he said insinuating that the stunningly successful ‘Malaysia Truly Asia’ tourism campaign was a farce.

Link: http://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2013/12/04/uk-hears-of-god-allah-sermons-and-firearms/