Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Jan 13, 2010 / 05:08 am
Saying they had not expected a violent reaction to the Malaysian High Court’s ruling that a Christian newspaper may use the word “Allah” for God, Catholic leaders in Malaysia have said there is an urgent need to “defuse the conflict” they say fundamentalists are trying to start in the country.
The Bishops’ Conference of Malaysia, Singapore and Brunei, scheduled to meet in the Malaysian city of Johor Baru long before the attacks on several churches, said it was “concerned” by the reaction, the Malaysian Insider reports.
The bishops discussed the impact and the necessary response to defuse what they described as a “worrisome and delicate” situation.
The prelates said that meetings with civil authorities and dialogues with Muslim leaders are ongoing and will continue.