Universal common good

Economic inequalities persist and are increasing on every continent: a situation that creates more unemployment and widens the social inequities that are among the most powerful causes of instability in many societies, including in some where peace is threatened or has already been undermined.

The turbulence of our times – economic, social and political – makes the achievement of social justice very much an agenda for today. Read more »

Pope Francis’s Apostolic Exhortation EVANGELII GAUDIUM came to live at the Stella Maris Secondary School today.

Kuala Lumpur Archbishop Julian Leow presented the Holy Father’s exhortation to over 150 professionals, religious and laypersons.

The event was organised jointly by the Catholic Doctors Association Malaysia (CDAM), Catholic Lawyers Society, Kuala Lumpur (CLS) and Catholic Teachers Association Malaysia (CTAM). Read more »

Former Israeli President Shimon Peres asked Pope Francis to head a parallel United Nations called the "United Religions" to counter religious extremism in the world today.

"In the past, most wars were motivated by the idea of nationhood. Today, however, wars are incited above all using religion as an excuse," Peres told the Catholic magazine, Famiglia Cristiana, ahead of the papal meeting Sept. 4.

Jesuit Father Federico Lombardi, Vatican spokesman, confirmed that Peres, who ended his presidential term in July, had requested the meeting and told the pope about his idea. Read more »

Pope Francis supports international intervention in Iraq and is willing to go to there personally if it will help end the violence against Christians and other religious minorities.

“In these cases where there is an unjust aggression, I can only say that it is licit to stop the unjust aggressor,” Pope Francis told reporters.

“I underscore the verb 'stop.' I don't say 'to bomb' or 'make war,' (but) 'stop it,'” he said in response to the question posed by CNA and EWTN News Rome bureau chief Alan Holdren. Read more »

The Catholic Lawyers Society of Malaysia (CLS) wishes to express its deepest condolences to the families of those on board MH17.

The CLS calls for a full and comprehensive investigation to identify and bring to justice the perpetrators of this henious crime that has robbed so many of their lives and loved ones.

In the meantime, we pray that God will comfort and hold all those who have been so unjustly subjected to this painful experience. Read more »

So you choose your law school, and your courses, with an eye to learning law rather than ideology.

And if you are even younger, choose undergrad courses that will make you think.

“Ninety-nine percent of the lawyers give the rest of us a bad name.” “What do you call a lawyer floating face down in the lake? A good start.” We all know the jokes.

Unfortunately, they have the ring of truth. Read more »

The Vatican today named Reverend Father Julian Leow Beng Kim as the Archbishop of Kuala Lumpur, taking over from Archbishop Emeritus Tan Sri Murphy Pakiam who stepped down on December 6 upon turning 75.

Apostolic Nuncio to Malaysia Archbishop Joseph S. Marino announced the appointment at the archdiocesan office in Bukit Nanas, Kuala Lumpur this evening.

Leow will take on the title of Archbishop-elect until such time he is officially installed as the new Archbishop of Kuala Lumpur. Read more »

At a recent gathering of Religious, political and cultural leaders from around the world who had gathered in Rome for a three- day peace meeting, Pope Francis told the leaders that everyone had a responsibility to contribute to peace through their prayers and their actions but for religious leaders, that obligation was absolute “the commitment of peace is deeply inscribed in the religious traditions we represent”. Read more »

“I’m delighted to announce that this year’s John Diefenbaker Defender of Human Rights and Freedom Award is awarded to His Eminence Cardinal Joseph Zen, bishop emeritus of Hong Kong,” John Baird, the Canadian Foreign Affairs Minister said in presenting the human rights award to Joseph Cardinal Zen Ze-kiun at a ceremony in Vancouver on October 31.

Baird explained that Cardinal Zen was chosen for his unwavering commitment to human rights, democracy and religious freedom. Read more »

In this highly competitive world where increasingly individualistic and materialistic tendencies adversely affect human relationships and often create divisions in families and society as a whole, we wish to share our thoughts on how Christians and Hindus can foster human relationships for the good of all humanity through friendship and solidarity.

Relationships are fundamental to human existence. Security and peace in the local, national and international communities are largely determined by the quality of our human interaction. Read more »