Bishop calls for a day of prayer on July 8

Bishop calls for a day of prayer on July 8

by Sun Line on Sunday, July 3, 2011 at 3:46pm

Catholic Bishop Dr Paul Tan Chee Ing today declared July 8 as a day of prayer in the Melaka-Johor diocese that “a peace based on justice would prevail among Malaysians of all persuasions and beliefs.”

“Like many Malaysians, I view the day of the Bersih march on July 9 with a mixture of trepidation and anticipation,” said the prelate, who is concurrently president of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of Malaysia.

“I view the situation with trepidation because the forces of reaction may go overboard which may trigger a chain of consequences whose end cannot be visualised at this stage,” he explained, reports Terence Netto of Malaysiakini.

“Conversely, I see the forces of democratic expression prompted by an imperative whose constitutionality, justice and urgency cannot be denied.”

A tug of conflicting imperatives

Bishop Paul Tan said he is following events closely in the lead-up to July 9 when Bersih, an agglomeration of NGOs pushing for electoral reform, will hold a march for electoral reform in apparent defiance of the authorities' strictures against it.

“This is one of those times when you feel the tug of conflicting imperatives: in this instance, the imperative of public order and tranquility counter-posed by the imperative of justice to the electoral processes that help to guarantee that peace. 

“As somebody whose persists in the faith that greater things are wrought by prayer that one can believe, this upcoming situation calls for recourse to precisely that: prayer. 

“Accordingly, I call on the Catholic faithful in my diocese, indeed throughout the nation, to devote Friday, July 8, to a day of prayer and contemplation that a peace premised on justice will prevail in our country.”

http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/168776

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Another prayer event planned by Facebook Users.

Pray for Malaysia (You must have a Facebook Account to view)

Time : Saturday, July 9 · 6:00am - 6:00pm

Place : Anyplace and anywhere

Firstly, for those unaware of the events that are taking place on the 9th July 2011 in Malaysia, please click and read the link below
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2011_Bersih_2.0_rally

Secondly, by clicking attending, may we commit to taking time on that day itself to pray for Malaysia during that day, wherever you are and anytime during that day. May this page be filled with prayers of those who care for Malaysia (whether pre/during/post event).

"If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land." 2 Chron 7:14

May His kingdom come and His will be done in Malaysia. Pray for peace, protection, and against violence.

And please spread this around too. Let us rally in prayer, shall we?