Lawyers urged to impart the Gospel values of justice, truth and peace

Jan 23, 2015

By Bernard Anthony
“Let us be the change we want to achieve around us. We can do this if we stay united in faith, justice and truth.” This was the parting message given to the Catholic lawyers by the Kuala Lumpur Archbishop, at the end of the Red Mass.

Among the intentions prayed for and offered at the Prayer of the Faithful was a plea for the administration of justice: that Catholic lawyers may continue to be inspired by their patron saint, St Thomas More for a just decision in the HERALD’s ‘Allah’ Review hearing on Jan 21, that all Malaysians may have the right to profess and practise their religion in peace and harmony. Prayers were also offered for those afflicted by the atrocities and massacres inflicted by militants, ie Boko Haram in Nigeria, the ISIS in Iraq, Syria and Libya, the Taliban militants’ attack on schools in Peshawar, Pakistan and the attack by gunmen at the Paris office of the Charles Hebdo publication.

The Votive Mass of the Holy Spirit, also known as the Red Mass, is held annually to invoke the Holy Spirit, the Advocate, to guide and nurture the lawyers as they commence their practice in the new year. It was celebrated this year at the Church of the Holy Rosary on Jan 10. His Grace Archbishop Julian Leow was the main celebrant and concelebrating with him were Archbishop Emeritus Murphy Pakiam, Fr Lawrence Andrew, SJ, Fr Joachim Tan, Fr Jestus Pereira, Fr Christopher W. Soosaipillai, Fr Michael Chua, Fr William Michael and Fr Gregory Chan.

The annual Red Mass is organised by the Catholic Lawyers’ Society Kuala Lumpur.

Archbishop Leow prayed in his opening address that judges and lawyers and all who stand on the side of truth be guided by the Holy Spirit. The Red Mass is celebrated annually with this intention.

The prelate in his homily posed these questions to the lawyers: “How do you feel at this juncture of your life in Malaysia? What are you feeling, are your hearts troubled or afraid?” He said that in certain parts of the world, people are afraid to draw cartoons, go shopping or to profess the faith. They do not know when they will be shot or attacked.

Touching on the Readings (St James 3;13-18; John 14:23-29), Archbishop Leow said it focused on peace.

“What are your concerns today, in your hearts, as we begin 2015? Are you concerned for the judiciary which you represent? Justice and peace? Family and the kind of values they absorb from society and in school (education)? Do you feel secure in your neighbourhood, streets, malls? Do you think we can practice our faith freely or are our hearts troubled?” The prelate said, “We can sit and criticize the world but what solution can we offer? We must start with ‘me.’”

Archbishop Leow quoted from the First Reading on how we are to live — values that we need to radiate in our lives, our family, and in our society. Then we can stand tall because we live a life that is pure, morally good. We then practise no hypocrisy, are impartial and have no need to control people around us. “How can I play this role to ensure a more just world?” the prelate asked the Catholic lawyers. “We need to look at ourselves. Are we propagating unjust laws towards others? To live a good life (according to St James), is to love tenderly, to walk humbly, to be people of wisdom.

“We must be compassionate and fair, just as God is. Only then can justice flourish and peace be achieved. The prelate reminded the lawyers again to defend the poor, the needy, to have pity on the weak, and to fight for the rights of the voiceless.Use your position as lawyers to influence the people who are unable to stand up for themselves.” He advised them, and those present, to play their respective roles to care for the weakest of society — or we fail as a nation. He emphasized that the strength of a nation depends on how we take care of the weakest and the voiceless.

Giving further advice, the prelate said, we need to focus on Jesus, the Righteous One. We need to compare our efforts and our benchmark should be Jesus Himself. He said that those who have power and influence should use their position for the betterment of the weakest in our society, to raise the bar, so that we can move closer and closer to God. We also need the Holy Spirit to give us wisdom to keep God’s words, to be men and women of integrity. He reminded everyone that they have to answer to a higher authority (GOD). He asked the lawyers to strengthen their belief and faith in the One True God and to let this belief shine in their lives, and in society.

In his conclusion, Archbishop Leow said that each one of us is sent on a mission. We should not fail in the duties given to us and he prayed that we journey with God throughout our lives.

At the end of the Red Mass,Viola De Cruz Silva, the President of the Catholic Lawyers’ Society, Kuala Lumpur gave her address. She said that since its inception 20 years ago, they have been celebrating the annual Red Mass to seek God’s blessing. “We need the Holy Spirit to guide us.” On behalf of the Society, Viola thanked God for His blessings upon them all. She also touched on the current issues affecting the world and the nation. We are still struggling to practice our faith, and she cited the recent case of the seizure of the 31 hymnals in Bahasa Malaysia in Johor that were meant for the Catholic Orang Asli. The hymnals were only later released, after the intervention and assistance of former CLS President Joy Appukuttan and Tan Sri Joseph Kurup’s political secretary, Vincent Wong, just in time for Christmas. She also said that constant harassment only harms people of goodwill. Twenty five prominent Malays stood up to demand ‘Moderation’.

In closing, Viola thanked all those politicians and others who spoke up for justice.Thanks also were accorded to Fr Tan and all those involved in the preparation of the Red Mass and the celebrants who participated.

The lawyers later adjourned to the entrance of the Church for a photo session with the prelate and clergy.