BIBLES Desecrated by Malaysian Authorities

The whole world is tuned-in to the humanitarian crisis unfolding in Japan following the nuclear meltdown and radiation leak caused by the after-math of the devastating tsunami, whilst in Malaysia the DESECRATION of Bibles and SEX  has been the No.1 priority of the Malaysian Government & its cronies.

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We Pray for religious freedom in Malaysia, that God will grant our authorities much wisdom, justice and fairness in upholding constitutional freedom of religion for our multiracial, multi-religious nation.

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Malaysian Christians found their Holy Bibles returned to them DEFACED and DESECRATED. The defaced Bible is now imprinted with a serial number, obviously to facilitate the authorities threatening to track every copy of the Alkitab used by the community.

In a strongly-worded statement titled 'Holy Scriptures Desecrated', the Christian Federation of Malaysia (CFM) called the decision to stamp and include serial numbers in the Bible as an act of 'desecration' and 'defacement'.

“The Christian community in Malaysia is deeply hurt that the government has desecrated and defaced the Bible and has refused to accept the Bibles.

The Christian community said today it is appalled by what it says is the Najib administration’s desecration of 5,100 holy books shipped in from Indonesia and has flat out refused to collect the Port Klang shipment.

The Christian Federation of Malaysia (CFM), which represents over 90 per cent of churches in the country, insisted that Putrajaya immediately drop the conditions imposed for the release of two shipments of Malay Bibles totalling 35,000 copies seized from Port Klang and Kuching port.

Last night, the Bible Society of Malaysia (BSM) was told its shipment of 5,100 Alkitab — as the Malay Bibles are called — have been stamped with the Home Ministry’s official seal, as per the conditions imposed for the release issued two days ago, without its prior permission.

The first requires the importers to directly stamp on the cover of each of the 35,000 copies the following words: “Peringatan: ‘Al Kitab Berita Baik’ ini untuk kegunaan penganut agama Kristian sahaja. Dengan perintah Menteri Dalam Negeri.” [In English: “Reminder: This ‘Al Kitab Berita Baik’ is for the use of Christians only. By order of the Home Minister.”]

The cover of the Alkitab would be stamped with the department’s official seal and dated as well.

The second condition requires the importers to stamp a serial number on each copy as if to demarcate copies from the released shipment and to enable the book to be traced back to the port of import.

“This means that the Bahasa Malaysia Bible is now treated as a restricted item, and the Word of God has been made subject to the control of man. This is wholly offensive to Christians,” CFM said in a strongly-worded statement today signed by its chairman Bishop Ng Moon Hing.

The umbrella body refuted government claims it had reached a compromise, saying it had never agreed that its holy books should be endorsed to say “it is only for Christians”.

“Any person who respects the Holy Scriptures of any religion would be appalled by this action. We will never accede to any desecration of the Bible since the Word of God to us is sacred,” it said.

Pointing to a 1982 order issued under the Internal Security Act (ISA), the CFM said nowhere in law was it stated that any form of words had to be endorsed on any copy of the Bible in Bahasa Malaysia.

“Given that copies may already have been endorsed, we will NOT take delivery of those endorsed copies,” it added.

The CFM said it also wholly rejects the federal government’s argument that the Bible in Bahasa Malaysia is “prejudicial to the national interest and security of Malaysia”.

It condemned the government’s treatment of its holy books as “subversive publication”.

The CFM said Christian Malaysians have always acted in good faith and with great patience to reach a peaceful end to religious dispute that would not compromise their beliefs.

“But that good faith has not been reciprocated by the government,” it said.

It further accused Putrajaya of having moved the “goal posts” over the years “through a systematic imposition of unreasonable conditions and restrictions”.

“As Christians we wonder how our Holy Scriptures can become a national security threat where countless number of us find it helpful in bringing hope and healing to broken lives and homes which we can testify to,” it said.

The CFM called on all Malaysians to rally together and reject all attempts to control the freedom of religion in the country.

It also advised all Christians to remain calm and pray for a dignified and respectful resolution to the ongoing Alkitab row and noted that Sunday will mark the second year the holy books have been detained at Port Klang.

 

STATUS  REPORT :  March 31, 2011

PETALING JAYA: The 30,000 copies of Bibles in Bahasa Malaysia (AlKitab) are still left uncollected in Kuching.

A source from the Christian Federation of Malaysia (CFM), said The Gideons, one of the two importers of the Bibles detained by the Home Ministry, said the Bibles were still in the ministry's possession.

“The Gideons said that they will consult with their various stakeholders, including donors of the book and church leaders in Sarawak, to decide on their next step,” he said in an interview, adding that The Gideons would notify CFM if they decided to take the Bibles.

The 30,000 copies of Perjanjian Baru, Mazmur dan Amsal or New Testament, Psalms and Proverbs, which cost US$26,000 (RM78,000), were meant for Christians in Sarawak.

They were confiscated at the Kuching Port on Jan 12.

A previous shipment of 5,100 Bibles, imported by Bible Society of Malaysia (BSM), were impounded in Port Klang in March 2009.

On Wednesday, BSM said it had collected the 5,100 Bibles and would not distribute them, but instead “preserve them as museum pieces”.

 

BSM said in a press statement that the copies could not be sold to Christian buyers after they had been defaced.

On the location of the Bibles and the museum, the society's general secretary Reverend Dr Simon Wong said they would disclose the details later, once they were ready.

“No timeframe has been set on when we will reach the decision,” he said yesterday.

BSM said it decided to collect the copies to “prevent the possibility of further acts of desecration or disrespect being committed against the holy books of the Christians by the ministry and its officers.”

It also said the society suffered a loss of RM70,000 since the holy books, which were detained by the Home Ministry for two years, would not go on sale.

The society claimed that the ministry's officers stamped all copies without prior permission from BSM about two weeks ago.

BSM also rejected the Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Senator Datuk Seri Idris Jala's offer that certain Christian donors were offering to pay for the cost of all the Bibles that have already been stamped and serialised.

“BSM wishes to make its stand clear that we will only accept a cheque from the Home Ministry and will not accept any money from so-called Christian donors',” it said.  (source: The Star)

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Humility is not a weakness    by  Terence .. senior editor at theSun

THE Bible Society of Malaysia (BSM) may be blamed for breaking the impasse between the Christian community and the government over the detention of over 30,000 Bibles in Port Klang and Kuching Port. It will be seen as splitting the Christians, who have held firm – till now – to the principle that the stamped and serialised Bahasa Malaysia holy books, the Al-Kitab, cannot be collected as they have been "desecrated".
 

If anything, the Christian Federation of Malaysia (CFM) wants the Bibles, which have been impounded for more than two years, to be a symbol of religious persecution and testimony to the flip-flopping of government policies when it comes to matters of the faith.

But as true Christians will tell you, humility is one of the tenets of the faith. Taking the first steps to break the deadlock is not a sign of weakness and compromise – although many would see it as that. Also, it is their duty to protect the Bible which they believe contains the word of God.

As the BSM articulated on Wednesday, the Al-Kitab has been through enough abuse and true Christians would not want to subject it to further grief, desecration or defacement. The released Bibles will be made into a Berlin Wall-like monument – a museum piece as a reminder of this sad event.

Those who view it as a victory for the authorities should think again. The whole episode stinks of one-upmanship and fickle policies that are inconsistent with the 1Malaysia mantra. 

This scribe has heard that even the prime minister had asked his cabinet colleagues: "Why are we doing this to the Christians?" No answers – not that are acceptable – were forthcoming.

While the country’s leaders go into damage-control mode, they must realise that making frequent flights to Sabah and Sarawak will not be enough to soothe wounds and repair reputations. Foreign publications, news wires and portals including Vatican media are watching events here with a keen eye. The fragile social fabric that has bound us for decades seems to have been compromised.

It is bad enough that churches are now "forced" to operate from shop-lots and old factories in industrial zones. Even erecting crosses is subject to strict regulations by the local authorities.

All the goodwill emanating from the Molotov cocktail attacks on several churches early last year, which brought the country’s leaders and Muslims together in defence of the Christian community has all but dissipated.

It is going to be painstaking work to rebuild the goodwill that all communities have enjoyed all this while. It is going to be an awkward Christmas this year. While we revel in the open house festivities where leaders mingle with the people over fruitcake and sparkling grape juice, the events of the early part of 2011 will be simmering beneath the surface. Hopefully no overzealous official will add insult to injury by asking that Christian symbols be removed before the prime minister arrives – as was the case last year.

The prime minister himself is a St John’s alumnus. Here and at Nottingham University, crucifixes and Bibles and Christian prayer and other symbols are all around. This never affected him or influenced his obligations as a good Muslim.

One is certain that Datuk Seri Najib Razak does not stand alone and there are Muslims like him who are wondering "why are we doing this to the Christians?"

As Najib’s predecessor once said, "It is the obligation of the majority in this country to protect the rights of the minorities." Many have forgotten this message or have refused to acknowledge it, fearing that it will not be politically expedient to do so.

I am not a religious person, but I do say a little prayer everyday for myself: "Please help me to do the right thing, even if it is the most difficult thing to do." Today, I extend this prayer to those who lead us.

Terence is senior editor at theSun and can be reached at terence@thesundaily.com
Updated: 09:58AM Fri, 01 Apr 2011

Japan : 9.0-Earthquake -> Tsunami -> Nuclear Plants Shutdown & Radiation Leak - March 11, 2011

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The world’s third-largest economy is struggling to respond to a disaster of epic proportions, with more than one million people without water or power and whole towns wiped off the map.

Human beings have the cognitive power to destroy the planet. The Church, whilst confirming that the Creator has entrusted humanity with the world’s wealth, nevertheless embraces ecology, often recommending that nature be safeguarded. The Church constantly warns humanity of the very negative consequences that could occur from wild exploitation of terrestrial goods. Are we to deduce the end of the world with the spate of  natural disasters and structures of evil (man induced calamities, such as terrorism and war)? The answer is clearly negative, and it is very clearly found in the Gospel: “When you hear of wars and insurrections, do not be terrified; for such things must happen first, but it will not immediately be the end” (Luke 21: 9; see also Mark 13:7; Matthew 24:6). 


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The Catholic church's stand on disasters and calamities:

There is no relationship between disasters, natural calamities and eschatology or apocalyptic eschatology. In fact, they happen “naturally,” that is, according to the laws, terrestrial and cosmic causes, because our planet and cosmos are relatively “young,” still dynamic and “alive.” The human being, however, present in the cosmos for only a few tens of millennia, interprets these events as filled with negative meaning. This provokes fear and a sense of religious pessimism or fatalism about the devastating end of the world.

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An elderly Japanese lady, when interviewed said :  
“What have we done to deserve this”

Whilst Japan grapples with a growing humanitarian disaster and the potential for a nuclear meltdown threat at its nuclear plant after the earthquake & the ensuing tsunami, let us unite in prayer with the people of Japan, who with dignity and courage are dealing with the consequences of the calamity:

Out of the depths i cry to You O Lord; 
Lord hear my prayer for a nation and its people who have been smashed into silence by Earthquakes, Tsunamis and Radiation leaks.

Merciful Father, I humbly turn to You for your loving mercy and kindness toward all who suffer as a result of the natural disasters which have devastated the people of Japan - a people who are now injured, cold, hungry, thirsty & powerless.  Lord, we beg you to heal, guide, inspire this nation in its rebuilding efforts.

Lord, for those who lost their lives, and those who mourn them, we ask for your loving mercy.

Lord, for those who were wounded, we ask for healing and help.

Lord, for those reaching out to the wounded, give them the graces, and the practical and economic resources they need in their efforts.

Lord, for those who are searching for the dead, assist them in their effort so that all who lost their lives in this tragedy can be buried with dignity.

I ask these through Christ our Lord ... Amen.

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Matthew 2:18 :

 

                        A voice was heard in Ramah, 

                        wailing and loud lamentation, 

                        Rachel weeping for her children; 

                        she refused to be consoled, 

                        because they were no more.

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Status Report as at March 31, 2011:

JAPAN - TEPCO – RADIATION LEAK:

Japanese officials are testing the soil contaminated by radiation from the crippled Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant .  The amount of iodine found in seawater near the plant has reached a new high of 4,385 times the legal limit as of March 31, 2011. Officials said earlier this week that dangerous plutonium was found in soil near the reactors. The company that operates the plant, the Tokyo Electric Power Co., has been trying to contain the radiation but they are unable to isolate the cause of the leak and has been saying like a broken record, that it is not critical & has been releasing conflicting reports. 

Radiation has also been detected in tap water, milk and vegetables, prompting the government to release a long list of banned food products from the region closest to the reactors. "Apparently, there is a crack, a crack in the vessel by which radiation is escaping," U.S. physicist Michio Kaku said. "This could mean that if the core begins to melt, we could have a steam explosion, a hydrogen gas explosion like Chernobyl."  

Japan has been reluctant in seeking foreign help & after 3 weeks TEPCO has sought the help of France & US has sent its robots to assist. The BIG question is whether TEPCO has cut corners in its safety measures and BETRAYED the Japanese people & its neighbors.  Australia and Canada are the two largest uranium suppliers for Japan & the manufacture of the reactors was GE.

If fears of radioactive iodine-131, which loses half its potency every eight days, are bad, imagine how people may feel about plutonium-239, which has a “half-life” of 24,000 years. Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO), the private monopoly that owns Fukushima, cannot say where the plutonium comes from: it may be from reactors No. 1 or 2, as a by-product of spent uranium, or from reactor No. 3, which has plutonium in its mixed-oxide fuel. That is the first indication of just how little the authorities know for certain about the situation.  TEPCO is already now under intense scrutiny to see whether it cut corners on safety prior to the disaster.  

In the midst of all these man-made problems the Japanese people have shown to the world that they can remain civilised, courteous & disciplined in adversity and thereby raising the human dignity. The royalty of Japan (Emperor Akihito & Empress Michiko) has also left a deep impression on me when they were seen in a kneeling position on the floor talking to n elderly woman seated on the floor with her husband kneeling beside her.  

Environmentalism in JAPAN:

Japan officially stopped commercial whaling in 1987, complying with an international moratorium that took effect the previous year. But the nation has used a loophole in the agreement to continue whaling under the name of "scientific research"  and is being harassed by the anti-whaling environmental group Sea Shepherd Conservation Society.

The Japanese are continuing the senseless and barbaric killing of over 20,000 dolphins every year.

Japan is slaughtering porpoises by the tens of thousands in a lucrative and underregulated trade that threatens at least one species. The IWC banned the hunting of large whales in 1986, but environmentalists charge that Japan, under the guise of research, continues to violate the ban by killing the large animals.

Jesus tells his disciples to ASK, SEEK & KNOCK

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Jesus tells his disciples Ask and you will receive, Seek and you will find, & Knock the door will be opened. 

But we all have our disappointments. We remember those things we asked for from God but never received. We remember the things we sought and never found. We remember the extended knocking that never opened a door. Seemed like the prayers never went through the ceiling.  

Given these disappointments, how do we follow Jesus’ commands? 

First, we must continue to petition God, to communicate what it is that we want. Secondly – and this is the hard part – we must be  extremely patient in waiting for a response. 

God’s time is often not our time. Lastly, we must be open to the possibility that God knows what is best for us. We may not receive, find or have a door opened to us in the way that we expected. And yet… it may still be an answer from God.

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We need SILENCE to be able to touch souls

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We need to find God, and he cannot be found in noise and restlessness.  God is the friend of silence.  See how nature – trees, flowers, grass – grows in silence; see the stars, the moon and the sun, how they move in silence… 

We need silence to be able to touch souls.  

(Blessed Mother Theresa)

Power and Beauty of Prayer

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Prayer is the only means of purifying us, 

of uniting us to God, and of allowing God to unite himself to us and be glorified in us. 

We must pray to obtain the apostolic virtues; pray that we may use them to help others, and pray also that we may not lose them while serving others.

(Saint Claude la Colombiére is a 17th century Jesuit saint)

Christian Number-Crunching - George Weigel - February 9, 2011

Reprinted by George Weigel with permission from InsideCatholic.com

By mid-2011, there will be 2,306,609,000 Christians of all kinds in the world, representing 33 percent of world population.

These 2.3 billion Christians can be divided into six "ecclesiastical megablocks": 

     1,160,880,000     Catholics; 

        426,450,000     Protestants; 

        271,316,000     Orthodox; 

          87,520,000     Anglicans; 

        378,281,000   "Independents" (i.e., those separated from or unaffiliated 

                                                  with  historic denominational Christianity); and
          35,539,000   "marginal Christians" (i.e., those professing off-brand 

                                                 Trinitarian theology, dubiousChristology,
                                                 supplementary written revelation beyond the Bible).

Allow God's word not only to inform our minds, but also to transform our lives

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.  Romans 12:2
                             “Do not be conformed to this world but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that you may prove what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect”. 

To know God’s mind, 
His thoughts and intentions for our lives,

we must allow His word, to not simply inform us but transform us as well.

By listening to God as He speaks to us 

through the words of Scripture, we will conform into the image of Christ not for ourselves, but for the sake of others.

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“For My thoughts are not your thoughts”

.  Isaiah - ch 55:8-9

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For my thoughts are not your thoughts, 

neither are your ways my ways, says the LORD. 

For as the heavens are higher than the earth, 

so are my ways higher than your ways 

and my thoughts than your thoughts. 

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“Lord, i surrender my thoughts, my ways, my plans, my aspirations. 

 i surrender everything, Lord, into your hands. 

 Show me your ways and lead me on your path.”

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Excerpt from Holy Father, Pope Benedict's message to Bloggers-2011

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“Who is my neighbour” in this new world?

Does the danger exist that we may be less present to those whom we encounter in our everyday life? Is there a risk of being more distracted because our attention is fragmented and absorbed in a world “other” than the one in which we live? Do we have time to reflect critically on our choices and to foster human relationships which are truly deep and lasting? 

It is important always to remember that virtual contact cannot and must not take the place of direct human contact with people at every level of our lives.”

(Excerpt from Holy Father, Pope Benedict's message to Bloggers-2011)

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