The Christians want a theocracy not a democracy
(Malaysia Outlook) – The entry of the Catholic Church once more into the volatile, contentious and highly divisive anti-government crusade led by an incredulous foreign funded Bersih, raises once more the unwelcome spectre of the division of church and state. More dangerously Bishop Bernard Paul’s partisan comments enliven the argument in favour of a theocracy to replace the existing secular democracy which Malaysia is. This time the clarion call for a theocracy is aided by Bishop Bernard Paul’s recent comments in support for Bersih.
The separation of powers doctrine and more importantly the injection of theocratic principles into a political debate in a secular though fragile state as Malaysia is, appears lost on the representatives of a the Vatican who appear bent on demolishing the separation of church and state doctrine, courting controversy wherever they go.
Thus far although the minority state based party PAS in Malaysia has been vociferously advancing the causes of an Islamic theocracy with limited success, Christians like Bishop Bernard Paul pushing religion into the mix, appear not only to provide that momentum to Muslims seeking a theocracy where little exists, he also appears to endorse the idea of religion in politics.
Most of PAS’s successes in advancing their idea of an Islamic theocracy has been the result of incitement in that direction by an opportunistic, divisive and reckless opposition coalition. They include the Roman Catholic and Evangelical Churches seeking to shore up the dwindling and inadequate political resources of their backers and allies in the Pakatan, the PKR and Bersih.
Take the Allah (Catholic Herald) affair, Lina Joy, the Indira Gandhi vs Syariah where elements of the churches had become so deeply involved in the defiant promotion of a religious agenda in breach of a constitutional prohibition.
Then consider the revelation more recently that the Evangelical churches like those of Hannah Yeoh’s and the Assemblies of God have been aggressively and openly converting Muslims migrants in Sabah to Christianity with foreign and domestic money. Once more this action is a direct violation of a constitutional prohibition against converting Muslims or proselytizing to them.
Bishop Paul’s comments point to support for a one sided unsubstantiated clam of corruption, political and financial misconduct attributed by Bersih to the current Barisan Nasional government. His provocative remarks blur the lines of division between church and state and join the calls for an undemocratic over throw of government by his support for Bersih.
Bersih’s core creed is the undemocratic overthrow of a democratically elected government. Bishop Paul’s is a direct call to ‘arms’ by a highly influential member of a highly influential though controversial representative of a foreign state, the Vatican in Malaysia.
