News from Home, World and the Vatican

News selected by Catholic Lawyers Society Kuala Lumpur (CLS) for Catholics in Malaysia concerned about social justice and peace.

Includes CLS Internal News | CLS in the News | CLS Press Statements

Seventh Corporal Work of Mercy: Bury the Dead

The final corporal work of mercy, “bury the dead,” is especially relevant this week as we remember the 43rd anniversary of Roe v. Wade.

Tragically, most if not all of the unborn children who lost their lives from abortion were never given the dignity of a proper burial.

Most were thrown into the trash, treated like garbage. Read more »

Ash Wednesday: Ancient Tradition Still Thrives In Modern Times

In more ways than one, Ash Wednesday – celebrated March 1 this year – leaves a mark.

That's because not only are Catholics marked with a sign of penitence with ashes on their foreheads, but the rich symbolism of the rite itself draws Catholics to churches in droves even though it is not a holy day of obligation and ashes do not have to be distributed during a Mass. Read more »

Sixth Corporal Work Of Mercy: Visit The Imprisoned

This corporal work of mercy includes two separate acts: “ransoming the captive” and “visiting the imprisoned.”

For the purposes of this article we will look at “visiting the imprisoned” as that is a bit more accessible for the average person.

In my last article, we looked at a recent pope, John Paul II, and his practice of “visiting the sick.” Read more »

Red Mass 2017 – “Listen To God’s Voice To Do What Is Right”

His Grace, Archbishop Julian Leow, called on Catholic Lawyers to listen to God’s voice and to do what is right and speak the truth. He encouraged lawyers not to fear man, rather to fear God.

He made this call during his sermon at the Annual Votive Mass of the Holy Spirit (Red Mass) held at the Church of The Sacred Heart of Jesus, Peel Road, Kuala Lumpur. Over 50 Catholic lawyers together with their families and parishioners were present. Also present were several diplomats from various Foreign Missions. Read more »

Cardinal Says: “I Am Just Soter”

History has been made. The Malaysian Church has its first ever Cardinal in His Eminence Anthony Soter Fernandez.

There emerges a hope for interreligious harmony and unity among all Malaysians.

Amid a climate of perceived growing Islamisation and racial polarisation, members of the church hope Cardinal Anthony Soter Fernandez would help foster better unity among Malaysians. Read more »

Till Christ Is Formed…

“The rich man replied, “Father, I beg you then to send Lazarus to my rich father’s house, since I have five brothers, to give them warning so that they do not come to this place of torment…..” (Lk 16:29).

As I reflect on this passage of this Sunday’s gospel reading (Luke 1: 19-31), I reminiscent on the loss of our dear priests and religious recently.

This year alone we have lost Frs Henriot, Phillips Muthu and Peter Kim from our KL Archdiocese and Fr Richard Khoo from the Kuching Archdiocese. Not to forget, Sr Teresa Chong (Carmelite) and many others. Read more »

Church Honours Saint Padre Pio – Patron Of Civil Defense Volunteers And Adolescents

St. Padre Pio was an Italian priest who was known for his piety and charity as well as for the gift of the stigmata, which has never been explained.

St. Padre Pio was born Francesco Forgione, on May 25, 1887, in Pietrelcina, Italy. His parents were peasant farmers.

He had an older brother and three younger sisters, as well as two other siblings who died in infancy. As a child, he was very religious and by the age of 5 he reportedly made the decision to dedicate his life to God. Read more »

Pope Canonizes Mother Teresa, Recalls Her Commitment To The Poor, Unborn

Pope Francis canonized Mother Teresa of Calcutta (1910-97), the foundress of the Missionaries of Charity, on September 4 during an outdoor Mass in St. Peter’s Square.

An estimated 120,000 pilgrims attended the Mass, according to Vatican Radio.

The Christian life does not consist in “merely extending a hand in times of need,” Pope Francis preached. Read more »

Brunei Catholic Lawyers Celebrate Red Mass 2016

Brunei Catholic lawyers celebrated the Red Mass on 25th May 2016. The inaugural mass was held last year.

This year the Votive Mass of the Holy Spirit was once again celebrated at the Church of Our Lady of the Assumption, Bandar Seri Begawan.

The main celebrant at the said Mass was Bishop Cornelius Sim, Vicar Apostolic of Brunei. Read more »

Fifth Corporal Work of Mercy: Visit The Sick

While preparing an article for this corporal work of mercy (visiting the sick), I immediately thought of one pope who highlighted this practice during his pontificate.

That pope was St. John Paul II, who throughout his life emphasized the habit of “visiting the sick.”

He is an inspiration to me and challenges us all to renew our own efforts in performing this work of mercy. Read more »

Here I Am, Here I Stay

These were the words penned on Peter Mooney’s columbarium nestled at the Church of St. Michael, Ipoh.

A Requiem Mass was held at the said church on 21 May 2016 organised by the CLS.

Presiding at the Mass was Rev. Father Peter Kim SJ, who had also presided at Peter Mooney’s funeral Mass on 27 April 2015. Read more »

Fourth Corporal Work of Mercy: Harbor the Harborless

We will focus on the next corporal works of mercy, “harbor the harborless” (shelter the homeless).

The Vatican highlighted this particular work of mercy this year when the new “Gift of Mercy” homeless shelter was established in October.

Even Pope Francis made a surprise visit. Read more »

Third Corporal Work Of Mercy: Clothe The Naked

The third corporal work of mercy, “clothe the naked,” seems rather straightforward.

One would think that it simply means to give clothes to someone who doesn’t have any.

While that certainly is an aspect of this work of mercy, it does not paint the whole picture. Read more »

Seek Justice In Fair, Moderate Manner, KL Archbishop Tells Lawyers

Archbishop Julian Leow urged Catholic lawyers to pursue justice in a "fair and meek manner in the midst of extreme issues facing the country", at the annual Red Mass celebration this morning.

He, however, said he used the term “meek” to mean "moderate", as opposed to being timid or soft. Read more »

MCCBCHST: Cabinet Must Tackle Root Cause Of Problem – Conversion Of Minors By Single Parent

The Malaysian Consultative Council of Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Sikhism and Taoism (MCCBCHST) refers to the statement by the Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr S Subramaniam that the Cabinet is looking into solving the problem of unilateral child conversion and introducing amendments to related laws.

MCCBCHST hopes that the root cause of the problem, i.e. the unilateral conversion of minors by a single parent would be RESOLVED. Read more »

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