Catholic Bishop Paul Tan Chee Ing hailed the staging of a Christian-Muslim dialogue in the teeth of obstacles in Butterworth yesterday as "far and away the best Malaysia Day present people of goodwill in this country could hope to get in our fraught circumstances."
A dialogue session jointly initiated by PAS MP for Parit Buntar Mujahid Yusof Rawa and Anglican priest John Kennedy had to run a gauntlet of obstacles before it was finally held at a church in Butterworth last night.
At the church, the dialogue proceeded without incident in the presence of police and individuals who had earlier lodged a police report and had otherwise signaled their disapproval.
"Just look at what a few people of peace and goodwill can achieve when they decide to brave adverse circumstances to hold a dialogue that seeks to build bridges between communities," commented the head of the Catholic Church in the Malacca-Johor diocese.
"Truly, this episode on a day of commemorative significance to us as a nation is a sign of God's providence," opined the Jesuit-trained prelate.
A dialogue session jointly initiated by PAS MP for Parit Buntar Mujahid Yusof Rawa and Anglican priest John Kennedy had to run a gauntlet of obstacles before it was finally held at a church in Butterworth last night.
At the church, the dialogue proceeded without incident in the presence of police and individuals who had earlier lodged a police report and had otherwise signaled their disapproval."Just look at what a few people of peace and goodwill can achieve when they decide to brave adverse circumstances to hold a dialogue that seeks to build bridges between communities," commented the head of the Catholic Church in the Malacca-Johor diocese.
"Truly, this episode on a day of commemorative significance to us as a nation is a sign of God's providence," opined the Jesuit-trained prelate.
'Genuine dialogue makes us true human beings'
Tan went on to explain the significance of dialogue in the Christian philosophic tradition.
"The age old adage that no man is an island was true, is still true and will be true in the future because dialogue is an essential part of being a human being. The Catholic Church teaches this. In fact, the FABC (Federation of Asian Bishops' Conferences) has written that 'dialogue is a new way of being Church'.
"Hence, genuine dialogue should be held with all peoples - people of different faiths, of different ethnic groups, of different political affiliations, not only with BN or PAS or DAP or any other political party.
"Let all understand that genuine dialogue makes us true human beings," expatiated the prelate.
"I pray and hope that episodes of this nature will multiply so that the forces of light will be enabled to triumph over the forces of darkness in our country which has had to endure several racially and religiously divisive incidents in recent years," he added.
He was referring to the controversy over Christians' use of the term "Allah" for God which is the subject of a tense court case and sundry accusations, as yet unsubstantiated, by Muslim politicians and leaders on the dangers of Christian proselytization of Muslims.
The bishop praised Mujahid (right) as "truly, a plenipotentiary of peace."
"I'm truly heartened by his steadfastness of purpose in forging a dialogue between Muslims and Christians. I have to get my hands on a copy of that book he has written that speaks of his efforts in forging dialogue," remarked Tan.
He was referring to "Berdialog dengan gereja sebuah travelogue kedamaian" (Dialogue with churches - a peace travelogue), a chronicle of the PAS legislator's visits to Christian churches in the last four years in search of common understanding.
"What his exertions and that of his Muslim and Christian collaborators mean is simply this: when the children of light put their shoulders to the wheel, the children of darkness will be rolled," said the bishop.
"The age old adage that no man is an island was true, is still true and will be true in the future because dialogue is an essential part of being a human being. The Catholic Church teaches this. In fact, the FABC (Federation of Asian Bishops' Conferences) has written that 'dialogue is a new way of being Church'.
"Hence, genuine dialogue should be held with all peoples - people of different faiths, of different ethnic groups, of different political affiliations, not only with BN or PAS or DAP or any other political party.
"Let all understand that genuine dialogue makes us true human beings," expatiated the prelate.
"I pray and hope that episodes of this nature will multiply so that the forces of light will be enabled to triumph over the forces of darkness in our country which has had to endure several racially and religiously divisive incidents in recent years," he added.
He was referring to the controversy over Christians' use of the term "Allah" for God which is the subject of a tense court case and sundry accusations, as yet unsubstantiated, by Muslim politicians and leaders on the dangers of Christian proselytization of Muslims.
The bishop praised Mujahid (right) as "truly, a plenipotentiary of peace.""I'm truly heartened by his steadfastness of purpose in forging a dialogue between Muslims and Christians. I have to get my hands on a copy of that book he has written that speaks of his efforts in forging dialogue," remarked Tan.
He was referring to "Berdialog dengan gereja sebuah travelogue kedamaian" (Dialogue with churches - a peace travelogue), a chronicle of the PAS legislator's visits to Christian churches in the last four years in search of common understanding.
"What his exertions and that of his Muslim and Christian collaborators mean is simply this: when the children of light put their shoulders to the wheel, the children of darkness will be rolled," said the bishop.
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