JOHOR BARU: The Catholic Church in Malaysia says there is an urgent need to “defuse the conflict that fundamentalist groups are trying to ignite in the nation”.

At the opening of a Bishops’ Conference of Malaysia, Singapore and Brunei here, the church added it was “concerned and did not expect that the question of the use of the word ‘Allah,’ would be followed by a reaction of this kind, with attacks against churches and Christian buildings.”

The conference had already been scheduled for some time and was not held in reaction to the church attacks but the recent events meant a change to the agenda, according to Agenzia Fides, the Vatican-based news agency.

The bishops discussed the impact and countermeasures that need to be taken to defuse a situation described as “worrisome and delicate.”

Fides reports that “during the debate on the first day, the Bishops stressed that ‘meetings with civil authorities and dialogue with Muslim leaders are on-going and will continue in the coming days. We must act in harmony and seek the necessary co-operation of the government and the high religious authorities in order to restore a peaceful environment to Malaysian society’.”

Another concern was that “these episodes are ‘smearing’ the reputation of Malaysian Islam, known for its moderation and peaceful co-existence with other religions.” It was noted that “groups of moderate Muslims have taken turns guarding churches to avoid further acts of violence.”

Archbishop Salvatore Pennacchio, Apostolic Delegate to Malaysia, Singapore and Brunei, also stressed the need to work for dialogue.

The bishops also said that Christians “will work and will do everything possible to keep calm, not retaliate, and pray to avoid a dangerous escalation of the violence.”

Courtesy: TheMalaysianInsider