Catholic Bishop Paul Tan Chee Ing today advised Christian politicians to distinguish between their career interests and the requirements of their faith in ways that would vivify both.

bishop paul tan chee ing The Bishop of the Melaka-Johor diocese was commenting on controversial remarks made by Joseph Salang Gandum, the deputy information, communication and culture minister, who was reported to have said that Christians were making fools of themselves by gathering at prayer meetings over the issue of the Malay Bible, Al-Kitab.

"Admittedly, it is sometimes difficult to reconcile Christian morality with the devices of politics," said the prelate, who is also president of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of Malaysia.

"But the practicing Christian cannot remain aloof from the public arena and so he or she has, not infrequently, to tread a fine line between conflicting imperatives," Bishop Paul Tan expatiated.

"There is no sure formula for participation in this political process but so long as Christian politicians take due cognisance of the complexity of reality, the ineradicable sinfulness of human nature, the corruptive consequences of power, the narrow possibilities of all human endeavours, the virtues of gradualism, and the horror inherent in every form of totalitarianism, they would be able to pick their way through the storm und drang - as the Germans would put it - of public life," he explained.

'Salang has done good work'

Bishop Paul Tan said he regretted the "intemperate remark" of Joseph Salang, a Catholic MP from Julau in Sarawak, who represents Parti Rakyat Sarawak, a BN component.

NONE "He has done good work raising funds for a church in Kepong in the Federal Territory and thus is regarded as an engaged Christian.

"This makes it distressing that he should find Christians prayerfully demonstrating their concerns over the impoundment of the Al-Kitab as somehow foolish.

"Somebody who contributes to the construction of an edifice and frowns on concerns expressed on what is allowed to be read and studied within its ambit, is wanting in contemplative wisdom," opined Bishop Paul Tan.

"Nobody should begrudge a politician the occasional resort to a robust remark or two, but on issues of grave moment and public import, an intemperate remark has the effect of a match on dry tinder," he said.