The coalition, whose members include the Muslim Consumers Association Malaysia (PPIM), claimed that Archbishop Joseph Marino’s endorsement of Christians using the world ‘Allah’ proved that the ambassador has “bad intentions”.
Archbishop Marino was reported yesterday as praising the local Catholic church for championing the right of Christians to use the world ‘Allah’ to refer to God.
“We are afraid that if the Foreign Ministry does not take stern action on this matter, this will lead to more interference including supporting the Christianisation movement targeted at Muslims in this country,” the coalition said in a statement issued by its chief publicity secretariat, Dzulkarnain Taib.
It also warned of racial disharmony if no action is taken against the archbishop, while hinting that “angry Muslims” might take their own “legal action” over the matter.
“The coalition will write a letter to Pope Francis about the attitude and statement of his ambassador,” it said.
Perkasa, Jati want M'sian Vatican office to be closed
In his first interview with the Malaysian media, the first resident diplomat sent by the Vatican to live and work in this country responded to the controversial issue of the use of the Arabic word, Allah, to describe god in any religion, as well as the very current hot button topic of religious conversions.
ReplyDeleteArchbishop Joseph Marino (pic) said he supports the stand of the Catholic Church in Malaysia.He applauded the arguments made by the Christian Federation of Malaysia to use "Allah" in its texts to refer to God as very well done.
ReplyDeleteArchbishop Marino qualified that although the ongoing court case was an internal matter for Malaysia, he was in support of the Christian federation’s arguments for the term, saying they were “quite logical and acceptable”.On conversions, he said that in itself was a "great mystery" because the attraction would differ from person to person.
ReplyDelete"If we are going to respect human dignity, we have to respect the conscience of the person in seeking God, it is a basic fundamental human right that needs to be respected and society needs to give space to all human beings in a pluralistic society," he added.Archbishop Marino is the Apostolic Nuncio to Malaysia. This position, also often known as a papal nuncio, is the Vatican equivalent to an ambassador.
ReplyDeleteThis is the first time the Vatican has opened what is the equivalent to an embassy in Malaysia. The Apostolic Nuncio said he liked being in Malaysia and was very warmly received by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong when he met the ruler to present his credentials.On his experience as Apostolic Nuncio in Bangladesh before coming to Malaysia, the Apostolic Nuncio said that the first thing he learnt there was the beauty of Islam.
ReplyDelete"It is indeed a religion of peace and harmony and its spiritual components of seeking God is profound. That was the joy that I had in my deep contact with Islam in a country that is predominantly Muslim. They also have great respect for Christians and other religions, and there is a real desire to have this true sense of conviviality," he said.The diplomat said the only way to stop deterioration in race relations in Malaysia is through dialogue, saying it would work out if people sat down and talked.
ReplyDeleteAsked about his meeting with the bishops here, he said it was insightful and that the topics revolved around the pastoral reality of the church, namely on the life of the church, celebration of the sacraments, seminarians, religious life and the internal life of the church. "Of course they mentioned that there are some questions pending in society about the usage of the word Allah and conversion, but the real focus was on the pastoral work of the church and how she was responding to the needs of the Catholic community," he said.
ReplyDelete"The role of the Vatican ambassador is to support whatever the Bishops and the Christians are doing. I told the bishops I am willing to participate in their efforts, including in inter-religious dialogue. And inter-religious dialogue had nothing to do with conversion. We are not there to covert one another, we are children of God coming together to speak about our different experiences with God," he said.
ReplyDeleteArchbishop Marino said his priorities here would be in line with the basic values of the Holy See for the international community, which included religious freedom, human dignity and human life. He will also be the link between Pope Francis and the local Catholic community, mainly through the bishops."The responsibility of the bishops are to look into the spiritual and material wellbeing of the people and sometimes they have to take up certain questions with the authorities," he said.
ReplyDelete"I celebrated mass at the Risen Christ church and I am very impressed by the deep faith of the Catholics here,” he said, referring to his experience in the church off Jalan Ipoh, Kuala Lumpur. Mentioning the former pope, the archbishop said: “Even Pope Benedict had mentioned in one of this talks that there is a true sense of God in Asia." On a lighter note about his experiences in Malaysia so far, he added he is holding off eating durians for now. "The bishops offered it to me, although it looked good, I couldn't get too close."
ReplyDeletethat's funny, I want Perkasa and Jati to close
ReplyDeleteDatuk Seri Najib Tun Razak berkata, umat Islam di negara ini wajar bersyukur dan rasa bertuah kerana nikmat keamanan dan kestabilan yang dikecapi dari dahulu hingga kini membolehkan mereka menjalani ibadat di bulan Ramadan dengan tenang.
ReplyDeleteBenar, ini semua hasil perjuangan nenek moyang kami tanpa kira bangsa dan agama.
DeleteMenurut Perdana Menteri, keadaan seperti itu tidak dirasai sebahagian besar umat Islam lain di seluruh dunia terutama di Asia Barat yang berada dalam keadaan sangat meruncing berikutan negara tidak diuruskan dengan baik dan tersusun terutama dari segi siasah dan politik.
ReplyDeleteKestabilan politik di Malaysia kira baik, persefahaman dan keharmonian antara bangsa dan kaum amat baik.
Delete"Oleh itu, marilah kita sama-sama mengimarahkan bulan Ramadan dengan sebaik-baiknya agar kita mendapat ganjaran sebaik-baiknya daripada Allah SWT.
ReplyDelete"Sebagai umat Islam di Malaysia kita perlu rasa amat bersyukur dan bertuah kerana kita dapat menyambut Ramadan dengan penuh keamanan dan boleh mengerjakan seberapa banyak ibadat mengikut kemampuan dengan tenang," katanya
ReplyDeletedi Malaysia kita dapat menjalani ibadat puasa, mencari rezeki halal dengan baik dan kita dapat melihat masa depan dengan penuh rasa keyakinan," katanya.
ReplyDeleteBanyak juga masih tidak puasa hati dan mengharapkan yang lebih banyak.
ReplyDeleteMasyarakat pelbagai kaum di negara ini diingatkan supaya sentiasa menjaga sensitiviti dan pegangan kaum lain bagi mengekalkan perpaduan, kesejahteraan dan keamanan negara.
ReplyDeleteTindakan sesetengah pihak yang cuba menimbulkan suasana hubungan tidak baik antara kaum amat dikesali kerana boleh mencetuskan kemarahan dan menyinggung perasaan orang lain.
ReplyDelete"Semua pihak sewajarnya dapat memahami sensitiviti sesuatu agama supaya tidak timbul perasaan kurang senang dalam kalangan masyarakat disebabkan perbuatan yang tidak seharusnya dilakukan.
ReplyDeleteTindakan pasangan Tan Jye Yee, 25, dan Vivian Lee, 24, yang mempersendakan bulan Ramadan dengan memuat naik gambar hidangan yang menimbulkan kemarahan umat Islam di negara ini. Dalam laman Facebook pasangan itu, mereka mempersenda kedatangan Ramadan apabila memuat naik gambar sedang menikmati hidangan bak kut teh (sup tulang babi).
ReplyDeleteIsu itu menjadi pengajaran kepada semua pihak supaya tidak mempersendakan agama lain demi menjaga keharmonian antara kaum di negara ini.
ReplyDeleteTindakan sesetengah pihak yang cuba menimbulkan suasana hubungan tidak baik antara kaum amat dikesali kerana boleh mencetuskan kemarahan dan menyinggung perasaan orang lain.
ReplyDeletePenasihat Agama kepada Perdana Menteri Datuk Seri Dr Abdullah Md Zin berkata pemimpin Islam di negara ini perlu sepakat dalam menjaga kepentingan agama Islam tanpa mengira perbezaan fahaman politik. Katanya tindakan sesetengah pemimpin politik yang mengetepikan kepentingan agama demi kedudukan politik dan menyebabkan kecelaruan berpanjangan dalam masyarakat amat dikesalkan.
ReplyDelete"Amat dikesalkan kerana pemimpin Pas seperti Nik Aziz dan Haji Hadi tidak mahu memperbetulkan kenyataan yang dibuat Nurul Izzah dalam soalan kebebasan beragama selain turut menyokong dan mengatakan perkara tersebut tidak penting. Sebagai Mursyidul Am Pas Datuk Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat jelas mengetepikan kepentingan Islam apabila menyokong Nurul Izzah sekalipun menyedari Naib Presiden Parti Keadilan Rakyat itu melakukan kesalahan besar.
ReplyDeleteNik Aziz jika tahu perkara itu salah sepatutnya jangan keluar apa-apa pandangan dan lebih baik menjadi syaitan yang bisu daripada syaitan yang berkata-kata," katanya. Beliau turut meminta Nurul Izzah memperbetulkan kenyataannya dan meminta maaf dengan mengakui tidak arif tentang bidang agama.
ReplyDeleteNurul Izzah yang juga Anggota Parlimen Lembah Pantai berkata rakyat tidak seharusnya dipaksa menganut agama tertentu dan perkara itu juga patut terpakai kepada orang Melayu. Apabila anda bertanya saya, tiada paksaan dalam beragama...bagaimana seseorang itu boleh berkata, maaflah, ini (kebebasan beragama) hanya terpakai kepada orang bukan Melayu, ia sepatutnya diguna pakai secara sama rata.
ReplyDeleteMasalah seperti ini seharusnya dibincangkan bersama. Itu adalah yang lebih baik. Tanya kepada mereka yang lebih arif dalam hal ini.
ReplyDelete'Campur tangan Vatican semarakkan sentimen agama'
ReplyDeleteMalaysia tidak membenarkan campur tangan atau pengaruh asing dalam isu penggunaan kalimah Allah, kata Menteri Luar Datuk Seri Anifah Aman.
Dalam satu kenyataan hari ini, Anifah berkata sebagai sebuah negara berdaulat campur tangan sebegitu akan hanya menyemarakkan sentimen keagamaan di negara ini serta tidak membantu dalam menyumbang ke arah memastikan kestabilan dan keharmonian kaum serta agama di Malaysia.
Delete"Perkara ini (isu kalacimah Allah) sedang didengar di Mahkamah Rayuan dan semua pihak perlu membiarkan kes itu diputuskan berdasarkan kedaulatan undang-undang negara," katanya.
DeleteDuta Vatican City ke Malaysia Biskop Joseph Marino dilaporkan menyokong kempen gereja tempatan untuk menggunakan kalimah Allah sebagai terjemahan bagi perkataan 'God' dalam kalangan penganut agama Kristian.
DeleteSokongan terbuka biskop itu mendapat tentangan hebat beberapa kumpulan Islam yang menyifatkan tindakan itu sebagai tidak sensitif dan sangat menghina kepada umat Islam serta rakyat Malaysia.
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