Political & judicial authority

Pope Francis on Saturday afternoon proceeded with the presentation of the official Bull of Indiction of the Extraordinary Jubilee of Mercy, set to begin December 8.

The bull is the fundamental document for the Holy Year that outlines the overall spirit and intentions for the Jubilee, as well as the spiritual fruits that are hoped for.

It was read by Fr Leonardo Sapienza, Regent of the Prefecture of the Pontifical Household, in a ceremony by the Holy Door of St Peter’s Basilica. Read more »

In St. Peter’s Basilica, Pope Francis announced today, March 13, 2015, the celebration of an “extraordinary Holy Year.”

This “Jubilee of Mercy” will commence with the opening of the Holy Door in St. Peter’s on the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception, 2015, and will conclude on November 20, 2016 with the Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe. Read more »

Fr Paulino Miranda and 20 others were again freed on 27 March 2015 when the Court of Appeal struck off the prosecution’s appeal for failing to serve the Petition within time to their solicitors.

Rev Father Paulino Miranda was charged with 20 others that included Petaling Jaya Utara MP Tony Pua, Selangor DAP state assemblymen Lau Weng San and Tiew Way Keng for taking part in an alleged illegal assembly in front of the Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ) building on October 9, 2008 between 9pm and 10.10pm. Read more »

Canada’s Supreme Court has unanimously ruled that Catholic schools in Quebec must be allowed to teach from a Catholic viewpoint during a state-mandated religion and ethics class.

“To tell a Catholic school how to explain its faith undermines the liberty of the members of its community who have chosen to give effect to the collective dimension of their religious beliefs by participating in a denominational school,” the Canadian Supreme Court wrote in its 7-0 March 19 decision. Read more »

Those who are corrupt, hypocritical and rigidly follow the letter of the law do not know what mercy is, and there can be no justice without mercy,

Pope Francis said at a morning Mass. "Corruption distanced them from understanding mercy, from being merciful. 

And the Bible tells us that the right judgment is precisely in mercy," he said at the Mass in the Domus Sanctae Marthae March 23. Read more »

The Malaysian Consultative Council of Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Sikhism and Taoism (MCCBCHST) refers to a project organised by the Islamic Information and Services Foundation under which one million copies of the Quran will be produced and translated into Tamil, Chinese, English and Malay to be distributed to the public (STAR on 9/01/2015).

Tun Dr. Mahathir, who is the project's patron, said it was aimed at lessening misconceptions and alleviating the fear of Islam amongst Non-Muslims. Read more »

The Malaysian Bar refers to the decision of the Federal Court on 10 February 2015 with respect to the appeal by Dato’ Seri Anwar Ibrahim against his conviction and sentence to five years’ imprisonment by the Court of Appeal for a charge under section 377B, read together with section 377A, of the Penal Code.

The parties in the appeal were previously given a full hearing before the Federal Court between 28 October 2014 and 7 November 2014. Read more »

“I put my whole life under the loving providence of Jesus’ Heart and I accept my death with faith in Him, no matter how difficult it is.

Nor do I want to give it an intention, as I would like, for peace in my country and for the flowering of our Church … because Christ’s Heart will give it the destiny He wishes.

It is sufficient for me, to be happy and confident, to know with certainty that my life and death are in Him. Read more »

We are shocked and appalled to read that a Cabinet Minister has found it politically expedient to pit one group of citizens against another!

On 10 March 2014, DYMM Yang Di-Pertuan Agong in his Royal Address to the first meeting of the second 13th Parliament session advised “all parties to refrain from making any statement or action that might be deemed provocative or sensitive. Be mindful that when unity disintegrates, the country will head towards destruction”. Read more »