Posted date: July 12, 2019
In support of the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors, Kuching Archdiocese has initiated a series of talks organised throughout its parishes to raise awareness and a sense of responsibility among the clergy, religious and laity as a proactive effort by the church in creating a safe environment and protection of children and the vulnerable under its care.
Concurrent to the above, the Priests in October 2018 and the Archdiocese Pastoral Council Board Meeting on 8 December 2018, have agreed to proceed with implementing the declaration of good behaviour by all those who are ministering to children and minors in Sunday schools, mission schools, parish ministries such as youth, and altar servers. This is an initial step by priests, religious, parish councillors, lay leaders and youth leaders to safeguard and protect the young and vulnerable.
On 23 - 24 March, the Archdiocese of Kuching organised a seminar on ‘Safeguarding our children and setting up of Professional Standard Office (PSO) protocol’ which was facilitated by Fr William Michael, Raymund Jagan and Christopher Kushi Kotska, the PSO Team from the Archdiocese of Kuala Lumpur. The seminar was attended by priests, seminarians, religious, parish councillors, educators/teachers, youth ministers from Kuching, Sibu and Miri Diocese. Topics covered included Canon Law on Child Protection, Malaysian Child Protection Laws covering sexual offences against children, the national support networks and ministries that provide expertise in handling of cases. Kuching Archdiocese PSO interim committee was also formed to work with Kuala Lumpur in the setting up of PSO.
Later this month in July, the Archdiocese of Kuching will be initiating the signing of a Declaration of Good Behaviour. Archbishops and priests will take the lead in their monthly Priests’ Meeting on 17 July, to be followed by Parish Pastoral Councillors, Sisters, Catechists, Sunday School Teachers, Campus and Youth Leaders as our commitment towards safeguarding our young and vulnerable and creating a safe environment in our Church and ministries.
Mewujudkan persekitaran yang selamat dalam gereja serta pelindungan bagi golongan bawah umur dan golongan yang lemah dan tertedah
Dalam usaha untuk menyokong Komisi Kepausan bagi Pelindungan Golongan Bawah Umur, Keuskupan Agung Kuching telah memulakan siri ceramah yang dianjurkan di semua parokinya untuk menimbulkan kesedaran dan rasa tanggungjawab di kalangan paderi, religius dan jemaat awam sebagai satu usaha yang proaktif oleh Gereja bagi mewujudkan persekitaran yang selamat serta pelindungan bagi kanak-kanak serta golongan yang lemah dan terdedah di bawah naungannya.
Selari dengan perkara di atas, golongan paderi pada Oktober 2018 dan Mesyuarat Lembaga Majlis Pastoral Keuskupan Agung pada 8 Disember 2018 telah bersetuju untuk melaksanakan deklarasi bagi kelakuan baik oleh semua mereka yang melayani kanak-kanak dan golongan bawah umur di sekolah Hari Minggu, sekolah misionari, dan ministri paroki seperti belia dan pelayan altar.
Ini merupakan langkah pertama oleh paderi, religius, ahli majlis paroki, ketua jemaat awam dan ketua belia untuk melindungi dan memelihara golongan muda serta golongan yang lemah dan terdedah.
Pada 23-24 Mac, Keuskupan Agung Kuching telah menganjurkan sebuah seminar mengenai ‘Melindungi anak-anak kita dan penubuhan protokol Pejabat Standard Profesional (PSO)’ yang dimudah cara oleh Father William Michael, Raymund Jagan dan Christopher Kushi Kotska, Pasukan PSO dari Keuskupan Agung Kuala Lumpur. Seminar tersebut dihadiri paderi, seminarian, religius, ahli majlis paroki, pendidik/guru serta pelayan belia dari Keuskupan Miri, Sibu dan Kuching.
Topik yang dirangkumi termasuk Undang-undang Gereja (Canon Law) mengenai Pelindungan Kanak-kanak, Undang-undang Pelindungan Kanak-kanak Malaysia yang meliputi kesalahan seksual terhadap kanak-kanak, rangkaian sokongan kebangsaan serta kementerian yang menyediakan kepakaran dalam usaha mengendalikan kes.
Jawatankuasa sementara PSO Keuskupan Agung Kuching juga dibentuk untuk bekerja dengan Kuala Lumpur dalam usaha menubuhkan PSO.
Menjelang hujung bulan Julai, Keuskupan Agung Kuching akan memulakan usaha menandatangani Deklarasi Kelakuan Baik. Uskup agung dan paderi akan mendahului usaha ini dalam Mesyuarat Paderi bulanan mereka pada 17 Julai, disusuli ahli Majlis Pastoral Paroki, Sister, Katekis, Guru Sekolah Hari Minggu serta ketua-ketua Belia dan Kampus sebagai komitmen kita untuk melindungi golongan yang muda, lemah dan terdedah selain mewujudkan persekitaran yang selamat dalam Gereja dan ministri kita.
鑄造一个安全的教會環境及保護我們的兒童和弱小者
古晋总教区支持宗座保护未成年人委员会，已在各堂区启动一系列的讲座，以提高神职人员、修士修女及平信徒的警觉性和责任感，作为教会在塑造一个安全的环境和保护其照顾下的儿童和弱小者的积极的努力。
与此同时，司铎们于2018年10月间，总教区牧灵议会于2018年12月8日的理事会议上，都已同意展开实行所有在主日学、教会学校、堂区职务如青年、辅祭员等参与儿童和未成年人事工的人士宣发行为良好的声明。这是司铎、修士修女、堂区议会成员、平信徒领袖和青年领袖们在捍卫和保护未成年人走出的第一步。
3月23至24日，古晋总教区举办了一个「捍卫我们的儿童及成立专业标准办事处(PSO) 协议」研讨会。研讨会由吉隆坡总教区的专业标准鑄造一个安全的教會環境及保護我們的兒童和弱小者办事处由威廉·麦克神父 (Fr William Michael) 、列蒙·扎甘 (Raymund Jagan) 和克里斯多弗·谷西·科斯卡(Christopher Kushi Kotska) 组成的团队主持。出席这个研讨会的是来自古晋、诗巫和美里教区的司铎、修生、修士、修女、堂区议会成员、教育工作者/教师、青年事工。研讨会探讨的课题包括关于保护儿童的教会法、涵盖对儿童性侵的马来西亚保护儿童法律，国家支援网络和提供处理个案的专门知识的部门。古晋总教区也组成了专业标准办事处临时委员会以和吉隆坡一起成立专业标准办事处。
古晋总教区将在七月较后时展开签署行为良好声明书。总主教们和司铎们将在7月17日的司铎常月会议中带头签署，接下来是堂区牧灵议会成员、修士修女、传道员、主日学老师、
校园及青年领袖，作为我们对捍卫我们的未成年者，及在我们的教会内和各事工内塑造一个安全的环境的承诺
Prepared by Archdiocesan Pastoral Council
In support of the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors, Kuching Archdiocese has initiated a series of talks organised throughout its parishes to raise awareness and a sense of responsibility among the clergy, religious and laity as a proactive effort by the church in creating a safe environment and ...
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Posted date: May 31, 2019
Dear Brothers and Sisters, ever since the internet first became available, the Church has always sought to promote its use in the service of the encounter between persons, and of solidarity among all....
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Posted date: January 27, 2019
[Message in English]
My dear brothers and sisters in Christ,
The theme for this year’s Catechetical Sunday, “Christ, Our Mission” (Phil 1:21) is a call to all baptized Catholics to make Christ known to others, especially those on the peripheries.
“For me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain.” (Phil 1:21). In this verse, the apostle Paul is saying that everything he has tried to be, everything he is, and everything he looked forward to becoming, pointed to Christ. From the time of Paul’s conversion until his martyrdom, every move he made was aimed at advancing the knowledge, gospel and church of Christ. Paul’s singular aim was to bring glory to Jesus.
The phrase ‘to live is Christ’ should be central to each one of us. “To live is Christ” means that we proclaim the gospel of Christ. It means that we imitate the examples of Christ. “To live is Christ” means that we pursue the knowledge of Christ. It means that we are willing to give up anything that prevents us from having Christ. “To live is Christ” means that Christ is our focus, our goal, our chief desire. Christ is the centre point of our mind, heart, body and soul. Everything that we do, we do for Christ’s glory.
In his first apostolic exhortation, Evangelii Gaudium (The Joy of the Gospel), Pope Francis reminds us that as baptized Catholics, we are all catechists and evangelizers. Thus as baptized Catholics, we are always encouraged to learn about our faith, but above all, we are called to give witness to the life of Jesus Christ that is at work within us. The strength of our faith, at a personal and community level, can be measured by the ability to communicate it to others, to spread and live it in charity, to witness to it to those we meet and those who share the path of life with us. St Pope Paul VI eloquently taught us that: “Modern man listens more willingly to witnesses than to teachers, and if he does listen to teachers, it is because they are witnesses”.
We need to know our faith so that we can bear witnesses to it. “Nemo dat quod non habet” … We cannot give what we do not have. Therefore, knowledge of the essential teachings of our faith is important. It’s a foundation that is essential to building life-long faith formation. Many youths ask, “When does Catechism finally come to an end?” It doesn’t! We are never through learning about and experiencing our faith. The truths of the Scriptures and the teachings of our Faith have been described as a great pool in which the smallest child can play in, but one in which the brightest of theologians could never touch the bottom.
We can and should spend a lifetime swimming in that pool. As we celebrate Catechetical Sunday, it’s a great opportunity for us to check in and ask ourselves if we have learned everything there is to know about our faith, or if perhaps Christ is asking us to go a little deeper into the pool. Let us rekindle our excitement for the gift of faith and develop our enthusiasm for this treasure that we carry in earthen vessels.
Our mission, our calling, our vocation as Catholics is to make God apparent in the world. We should let others see Him through us. This Catechetical Sunday, let us recommit ourselves to our vocation as teachers of the faith. Let us vow to proclaim the Good News, to be heralds of the gospel, to be messengers of healing and hope. We need to strive, very simply, to make our lives examples of what it means to be a Catholic: To love without conditions, to pray without ceasing, to be compassion and mercy in a world full of desperation and fear.
The writer M. Craig Barnes put it beautifully, “God is always present,” he wrote, “but not usually apparent.” So let us live to make Christ, Our Mission and in the words of St Paul, “conduct yourselves in a way worthy of the Gospel of Christ”.
Archbishop Julian Leow
President
Malaysian Catechetical Commission
[Message in Chinese]
2019年教理主日
亲爱的主内弟兄姐妹们：
今年教理主日的主题是“基督，我们的使命”（斐1:21）。这是一项召叫---凡受洗的天主教徒都要让基督显示于他人，特别是周遭的人。
“因為在我看來，生活原是基督，死亡乃是利益。”（斐1:21）。在这经节中，保禄宗徒说他尝试所有的一切、所为的一切，以及他期待成为的一切，都是朝向基督。从保禄悔改到殉难期间，他的一切所做所为都在使信仰知识、基督的福音和教会前进。他唯一的宗旨是为耶稣带来荣耀。
“生活原是基督”这句话应该是我们每个人的核心。“生活原是基督”意味着我们要宣讲基督的福音。这意味着我们在仿效基督的榜样。“生活原是基督”意味着我们想方设法要认识基督。这也意味着我们愿意舍弃一切阻碍我们拥有基督的事物。“生活原是基督”意思是基督是我们的重心、目标和首要的意愿。基督也是我们的思维、心神、身体和灵魂的中心点。我们所做的一切，都是为了基督的荣耀。
教宗方济各在他的第一道宗座劝喻中，Evangelii Gaudium（福音的喜乐）提醒我们，身为受洗的天主教徒都是传教士和福音的传播者。因此，我们作为受洗的天主教徒应常受激励多认识我们的信仰，以便我们能为在我们内心工作的耶稣基督的生命作见证。在个人和社区层面，宗教信仰的力量可以通过以下能力来衡量：与他人交流、传播信仰、以慈善方式生活、向那些我们遇到的人和同我们分享人生道路的人见证信仰。教宗圣保禄六世情深意切地教导我们：“现代人更乐意听的是见证而不是听说教，如果他确实有听取说教者的话，那是因为他们就是见证人”。
我们需要认识我们的信仰以便能为它作证。 “Nemo dat quod non habet”......我们不能给予我们所没有的东西。 因此，认识我们信仰的基本教义是极为重要。它是建立一生的信仰培育不可缺的基础。 很多年轻人都会问：“学习教理何时会结束？”事实上并非如此！ 我们永远不会藉着学习来体验我们的信仰。 圣经的真理和我们信仰的教导可描述为一个巨大的泳池，它能让年幼的孩子在其中玩耍，但是连最优秀的神学家却永远无法触及其底部。
当然，我们可以在那个泳池里善度一生。 当我们庆祝教理主日时，这真是一个良机让我们省查并扪心自问：我们是否已经了解了我们的信仰，或许基督也会要求我们游往深处去。让我们重新点燃我们对这份信仰礼物的激情，并培育我们对装在瓦器里的宝藏的热情。
我们的使命，我们的召叫，身为天主教徒的我们唯一的圣召就是要让天主彰显于世。藉着我们让他人看到天主。让我们在这个教理主日里重新作出承诺以便成为信仰讲授员（传道员/教理讲授员）。 让我们去宣扬福音，为福音的先驱者、为治愈和希望的使者。我们需要努力但是非常简单地，就是让我们活出成为天主教徒的意义---无条件地爱，不停地祈祷，在充满绝望和恐惧的世界中给予同情和怜悯。
作家M.Craig Barnes说得漂亮，他写道：“天主常存，却总不易见。”所以，让我们生活，为使基督成为我们的使命，正如圣保禄所言：“你们生活度日只应合乎基督的福音”。
[Message in BM]
PESAN MINGGU KATEKETIKAL 2019
Suadara-saudari dalam Kristus,
Tema Minggu Kateketikal tahun ini, “Kristus Misi Kita” (Fil 1:21) merupakan panggilan untuk semua umat Katolik yang telah dibaptis untuk memperkenalkan Kristus kepada orang lain, khususnya mereka yang di sekeliling kita.
“Kerana bagiku, hidup adalah Kristus, dan mati adalah keuntungan.” (Fil 1:21). Dalam petikan ini, rasul Paulus mengatakan bahawa segala-gala yang dia telah usahakan, segala keberadaannya dan segala yang diharapkannya menjadi peribadi yang dia inginkan, terarah kepada Kristus. Sejak pertaubatan Paulus sehingga ke matiranya, setiap tindakan yang dia ambil adalah bertujuan untuk memantapkan pengetahuan, Injil dan gereja Kristus. Hanya satu tujuan Paulus iaitu untuk kemuliaan Yesus.
Ungkapan ‘hidup adalah Kristus’ harus menjadi pusat untuk setiap kita. “hidup adalah Kristus” maksudnya kita mewartakan Injil Kristus. Bererti bahawa kita meneladani sikap Kristus. “Hidup adalah Kristus” bermaksud kita memantapkan pengetahuan kita tentang Kristus. Ini bererti kita sanggup meninggalkan segala sesuatu yang menghalang kita untuk memiliki Kristus. “Hidup adalah Kristus” bererti Kristus adalah fokus kita, tujuan kita, yang kita utamakan. Kristus merupakan pusat pemikiran, hati, tubuh dan jiwa kita. Maka segala sesuatu yang kita lakukan adalah untuk kemuliaan Kristus.
Dalam amanat apostolik pertama Bapa Suci Francis, Evangelii Gaudium (Sukacita Injil), dia mengingatkan kita bahawa sebagai umat Katolik yang telah dibaptis, kita semua adalah katekis dan penginjil. Maka sebagai umat Katolik, kita selalu didorong untuk mempelajari iman kita, tetapi yang paling utama kita dipanggil untuk memberi kesaksian tentang hidup Yesus yang berkarya dalam hidup kita. Kekuatan iman kita secara peribadi dan berkomuniti dapat diukur dari kemampuan menyampaikannya kepada orang lain, menyebarkannya dan menghidupinya dalam amalan kasih, memberi kesaksian iman kepada mereka yang kita temui dan kepada mereka yang berkongsi perjalanan hidup dengan kita. Santo Paus Paulus ke 6, mengajar kita bahawa: “Manusia moden lebih suka mendengar pada kesaksian daripada mendengar para guru dan jika dia mendengar pada guru-guru, kerana mereka adalah para saksi.”
Kita perlu mengetahui iman kita supaya kita dapat memberi kesaksian padanya. “Nemo dat quod non habet”… kita tidak dapat memberi apa yang tidak ada pada kita. Maka pengetahuan tentang intipati ajaran iman kita sangat penting sekali. Ia merupakan dasar yang sangat diperlukan untuk penbentukan iman yang berterusan. Ramai para belia bertanya. “Bilakah Katekimus akan berakhir? Ia tidak akan berakhir! Kita tidak pernah berhenti belajar tentang iman dan mengelamani iman kita. Kebenaran mengenai Kitab Suci dan ajaran-ajaran iman kita diumpamakan seperti kolam yang sangat besar sekali di mana anak kecil dapat bermain di dalamnya, tetapi tidak ada seorang pun ahli teologi yang sangat pitar dapat menyentu dasarnya.
Kita boleh dan seharusnya berenang sepanjang hayat dalam kolam itu. Sempena merayakan Minggu Kateketikal adalah kesempatan untuk kita menilai dan bertanya kepada diri kita sendiri adakah kita mengetahui segalanya tentang iman kita atau mungkin Kristus meminta kita supaya pergi lebih dalam di kolam itu. Marilah kita semarakkan kegembiraan akan anugerah iman dan kembangkan minat kita pada harta yang kita bawah dalam pasu duniawi.
Misi dan panggilan kita sebagai umat Katolik adalah menjadikan Allah nampak dalam dunia. Orang lain harus melihat Dia melalui kita. Dalam Minggu Kateketikal ini marilah kita memperbaharui komitmen dalam panggilan kita sebagai guru iman. Marilah kita berjanji untuk memberitakan Khabar Gembira, mewartakan Injil, menjadi utusan kesembuhan dan harapan. Kita hanya perlu berusaha menjadikan hidup kita contoh erti menjadi seorang Katolik: mengasihi tanpa syarat, berdoa tanpa henti, penyayang dan berbelas kasihan dalam dunia yang penuh dengan putus asa dan ketakutan.
Penulis M. Craig Barnes dengan indah mengunkapkan, “Allah sentiasa hadir, tetapi tidak kenampakan.” Maka marilah kita jadikan Kristus, Misi Kita dan dalam kata-kata St. Paulus, “pastikanlah kelakuanmu selaras dengan Injil Kristus.”[Message in English]
My dear brothers and sisters in Christ,
The theme for this year’s Catechetical Sunday, “Christ, Our Mission” (Phil 1:21) is a call to all baptized Catholics to make Christ known to others, especially those on the peripheries.
“For me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain.” (Phil 1:21). ...
Read more
Posted date: September 28, 2018
Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ,
The month of October is traditionally our month of praying the rosary. As you gather in your homes and neighbourhood, in Family Bloc Rosary, BEC, Tamans, Kampongs, let us pray with the universal Church for the intentions of the Holy Father. "If one member suffers, all suffer together with it" (1 Cor 12:26). Pope Francis has called on Catholics everywhere to pray, fast, and make reparation for the sins of clerical abuse that is hurting the Church and her mission. Our Church in Malaysia is part of the universal Body of Christ, and suffers with all the victims. Let us turn to Mary our Mother and Mother of the Church, during this month of Rosary to pray for the purification, healing and renewal of the Catholic Church everywhere, beginning in our own families, parishes and dioceses. The daily Mass on the last Friday of 26 October will be offered for this intention. Other forms of penance during this month may include personal adoration, acts of charity, acts of sacrifice, acts of piety, corporal and spiritual acts of mercy. We must implore the mercy of God upon the Church and the world. We remain in communion of prayers with you the People of God.
Issued by the Catholic Bishops of Malaysia on 26 September 2018, Penang.
Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ,
The month of October is traditionally our month of praying the rosary. As you gather in your homes and neighbourhood, in Family Bloc Rosary, BEC, Tamans, Kampongs, let us pray with the universal Church for the intentions of the Holy Father. "If one member ...
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Posted date: September 7, 2018
Brothers and Sisters,
The theme for this year’s 61st Merdeka Day and 55th Malaysia Day celebration “Sayangi Malaysiaku” resonates most deeply with the beating heart of every Malaysian. It also marks a maturity of sorts for our Nation which had witnessed an unprecedented electoral tsunami and most importantly a peaceful transfer of power that took place on 9 May 2018.
We offer praise and thanks to God for blessing our beloved country with renewed hope. However, the work of Nation rebuilding is not only for politicians but also for every citizen.
Our role in nation-building
Our moral duty did not end at the ballot box. In fact, it was just the beginning. Much work is now needed to put our Nation back on the path of national togetherness, where good governance, fairness and justice must no longer be mere slogans but become facts of everyday life. This is only possible if we as faithful and responsible citizens assume the responsibility of fostering this spirit of unity, trust, fairness and accountability in our own daily lives.
We must find our strength of action from our faith where civility and mutual respect are deeply entrenched in scripture, in our prayers and in the example of our Saints. It is upon this bedrock of faith that we must manifest our care for each other irrespective of creed or colour and for the vulnerable, the discriminated and the marginalised in society.
Every choice that we make, must take us ever closer and in favour of the common good and preserving Malaysia in all its colour, its worship, its diversity and in its uniqueness. For if we are to regard Malaysia as our shared home, we must learn to appreciate each other and learn from one another. We ought to avoid choices that only serve narrow and personal aims that are ultimately destructive to our spiritually, to our social fabric, race relations and our environment:
“For the Lord gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding. He holds success in store for the upright, he is a shield to those whose walk is blameless, for he guards the course of the just and protects the way of his faithful one.” Proverbs 2:6-8
Redefining Nationalism
Nationalism isn’t about aligning oneself to the dominant narrative of the day. It is never about tyranny of a majority against a minority. It is never the misappropriation of National resources to the exclusion of others.
Perhaps we ought to return to the words of our founding father Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra, in the Proclamation of Independence where he said that our Nation: “shall be for ever a sovereign democratic and independent State founded upon the principles of liberty and justice and ever seeking the welfare and happiness of its people and the maintenance of a just peace among all nations”.
It is perhaps timely that we reflect, advocate and act upon these founding principles of Nationhood that in time, may break the narrow and selfish Nationalism indoctrinated upon us in the past.
Build Bridges
Malaysia’s progress as a Nation must include the cultivation of essential values which are integral to the harmony and unity of its people. This translates to building strong bonds of understanding and unity among the various races and religions. Thus ensuring that fair-play and care for all people form the cornerstone of our society.
We are Malaysia. The friendships we build across our social boundaries, across our comfort zones and across racial and religious divides are what makes Malaysia the nation that it is. With God as our loving guide, may our love for our neighbour increase and may we continue to celebrate the diversity of this country – a place we belong to each other. Malaysia needs every one of us to build on the good works of the past. Brick by loving brick we must ensure a just society, a bulwark against any future storm.
Let us recapture and retain the innocence of that first muhibbah spirit and the feeling of pride for our Nation – the same togetherness and pride our forefathers felt hearing the proclamation of “Merdeka! Merdeka! Merdeka!”
Today, let us as one united Malaysia, proudly declare that we ‘Sayangi Malaysiaku’.
SELAMAT MENYAMBUT HARI MERDEKA DAN HARI MALAYSIA!
Devotedly in Christ,
Most Reverend Julian Leow Beng Kim, D.D,
Archbishop of Kuala Lumpur
President, Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Malaysia
on behalf of the bishops of Malaysia
Brothers and Sisters,
The theme for this year’s 61st Merdeka Day and 55th Malaysia Day celebration “Sayangi Malaysiaku” resonates most deeply with the beating heart of every Malaysian. It also marks a maturity of sorts for our Nation which had witnessed an unprecedented electoral tsunami and most importantly a peaceful transfer ...
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Posted date: May 29, 2018
PONTIFICAL COUNCIL FOR INTERRELIGIOUS DIALOGUE
Christians and Buddhists: Preventing and Combatting Corruption Together
MESSAGE FOR THE FEAST OF VESAKH 2018
Dear Buddhist Friends,
1. On behalf of the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue, we extend our warmest greetings and prayerful good wishes on the occasion of Vesakh. May this feast bring joy and peace to all of you, your families and your communities throughout the world.
2. We wish to reflect this year on the pressing need to promote a culture free of corruption. Corruption involving the abuse of positions of power for personal gain, both within the public or private sectors, has become such a pervasive scandal in today’s world that the United Nations has designated 9 December as International Anti-Corruption Day. As the phenomenon of corruption becomes more widespread, governments, non-governmental organizations, the media, and citizens around the world are joining together to combat this heinous crime. As religious leaders, we too must contribute to fostering a culture imbued with lawfulness and transparency.
3. Pope Francis’ monthly prayer intention for February 2018 was “Say ‘No’ to Corruption.” In denouncing “the sin of corruption,” he recognizes that corruption is found throughout the world among politicians, business executives and clerics. Those who ultimately pay the price for corruption, he observes, are the poor. Recalling the words of Jesus to his disciples, “Whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant” (Matthew 20:26), the Pope insists, “the only road leading out of corruption […] is service. Because corruption comes from pride, from arrogance, and service is humbling: it is precisely the humble charity of helping others” (Morning Meditation, Domus Santae Marthae, 16 June 2014).
4. Dear friends, as Buddhists, you regard corruption as an unwholesome state of mind that causes suffering and contributes to an unhealthy society. You identify three principal toxins – greed, hate, and delusion or ignorance - as sources of this social scourge that must be eliminated for the good of the individual and society. The Second Precept of Buddhism, “I undertake to observe the precept to abstain from taking that which is not given,” teaches Buddhists to discern whether those things that come into their possession are indeed meant for them. If such things have been taken from others illicitly, they may not rightfully be kept. Buddhist teachings and practice not only disapprove of corruption but also seek to transform the unhealthy state of mind, intentions, habits and actions of those who are corrupt.
5. Even though, both our religious traditions firmly denounce the evil of corruption, we sadly acknowledge that some of our followers participate in corrupt practices and this leads to bad governance, corporate bribery and the pillaging of national assets. Corruption puts lives at risks for it is connected to low economic growth, weak investment, inflation, monetary devaluation, tax evasion, great inequality, poor education, sub-standard infrastructure, and the degradation of environment. It also threatens the health and safety of individuals and communities. People are scandalized by incompetent and corrupt politicians, ineffective legislation and the failure to investigate major corruption cases. Populist movements, sometimes motivated and sustained by religious fundamentalism, have arisen to protest the breakdown of public integrity.
6. We believe that corruption cannot be answered with silence, and that well- intentioned ideas will prove inadequate unless they are applied, and that such implementation is necessary for corruption to be eliminated. We Buddhists and Christians, rooted in our respective ethical teachings, must work together to prevent corruption by eradicating its underlying causes and to root out corruption where it exists. In this effort, our main contribution will be to encourage our respective followers to grow in moral integrity and a sense of fairness and responsibility. Our common commitment to combating corruption must include cooperating with the media and civil society in preventing and exposing corruption; creating public awareness of corruption; holding white-collar criminals who plunder national assets accountable for their actions, regardless of their ethnic, religious, political, or class affiliations; teaching and inspiring all people, but especially politicians and public servants, to act with the utmost fiscal integrity; calling for due legal process to recover assets that are stolen through corruption and bringing to justice those responsible for this crime: encouraging more women to participate in politics: refusing to entrust with public office those engaged in illegal activities; and introducing transparent and inclusive institutions based on the rule of law for good governance, accountability, and integrity.
7. Dear friends, may we actively commit ourselves to fostering within our families, and social, political, civil, and religious institutions an environment free of corruption by living a life of honesty and integrity. It is in this spirit that we wish you once again a peaceful and joyful feast of Vesakh!
Signed
Cardinal Jean-Louis Tauran
President
Bishop Miguel Ángel Ayuso Guixot, MCCJ
Secretary
PONTIFICAL COUNCIL FOR INTERRELIGIOUS DIALOGUE
Christians and Buddhists: Preventing and Combatting Corruption Together
MESSAGE FOR THE FEAST OF VESAKH 2018
Dear Buddhist Friends,
1. On behalf of the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue, we extend our warmest greetings and prayerful good wishes on the occasion of Vesakh. May this feast bring joy and peace ...
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