Cardinal: dedication to God links John XXIII, John Paul II

VATICAN CITY: The papacies of John XXIII and John Paul II are connected in their dedication to God and to lives of priestly service, a cardinal who worked with both of the pontiffs stressed.

The Brits have it right: forget Happy Holidays, just wish people Merry Christmas I'd rather be able to wish people in the US a Merry Christmas this week without having to worry if they'll be offended

A colleague made a curious statement when she returned to New Yorkrecently from London, "Everything was so Christmas-y there."

At first glance, it's a bizarre statement. New York and London (among other cities in both countries) are decked out for the holidays. Who hasn't heard of the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree or London'sOxford Street lights and mince pies? And that's to say nothing of the famous storefront windows all aglow.

But look beyond the seasonal window treatments at Macy's and you'll quickly find a different story. In corporate America, everything is "happy holidays". Ads refer to "holiday shopping", end-of-year office soirees are "holiday parties" and kids' school concerts this time of year are "holiday concerts". You get the idea.

Even at the Guardian, when we put up our Christmas tree in the New York office, the first thing one of our interns said was, "Where's the menorah?"

It's the "politically correct" question. Evergreens and menorahs go hand in hand in most public places in the US. Some offices have gone a step further on the PC scale and simply done "winter wonderland" themed decorations. They have silver, gold and white lights aplenty, but no red and green anything. In short, snow globes are fine, Santa is not.

An annual survey that came out last week revealed just how conflicted Americans are on whether it's better to say "Merry Christmas" or "Happy Holidays" this time of year. Half of America prefers one term and half the other. However, in a business or public setting, nearly two-thirds of those under 30 feel it's better to wish someone the more generic Happy Holidays. It's about trying to be polite in an increasingly diverse society.

I see the trend just by looking at the greeting cards I've received this year in the mail and how people are signing off their emails. The majority wish me something along the lines of: happy holidays, peace, warm wishes for the New Year, and my least favorite, "seasons greetings". The cards have nice images of mittens, ice skates and snow covered landscapes (not to mention photos of cute kids), but not much overtly Christmas-y. They offer me everything jolly and merry this time of year, except a Merry Christmas.

I'm not to saying that Christmas isn't prominently visible in the states. There are still plenty of Santas and pine trees for sale here, and a drive around the neighborhood, especially in parts of America outside of the major cities, and you'll see people go all out with the Christmas lights and decorations outside their homes (there's even a TV show about it). But even people who are clearly celebrating Christmas in their homes tend to be conflicted about what to say in the workplace or at school. No one wants to offend anyone or make assumptions about people's religious beliefs, especially at work.

In America, the term "Christmas" still has a strongly religious connotation to it (despite what years of Santa and the "buy buy buy" mentality have done to the spirit of holiday). That's only further reinforced by claims on Fox News and other conservative outlets that there is a "war on Christmas" and, by extension, a war on the Christian faith. Now wishing people a "Merry Christmas" almost has a political tone to it.

What's striking to anyone who has spent time in the UK is that everyone says Merry (or Happy) Christmas. I've even had Muslim friends in the UK send me cards and write Merry Christmas on my Facebook wall. The saying in Britain seems to have lost its religious meaning. People say it regardless of whether or not they celebrate Christmas, and businesses feel no remorse whatsoever at openly calling things "Christmas sales" or "Christmas parties".

Of course, I am making broad generalizations. As a British friend reminded me, the UK has been celebrating Saturnalia long before Christmas, and plenty of places such as Birmingham have generic Winterval celebrations. Christmas isn't ubiquitous.

But by and large, in two diverse societies with similar roots, Americans have opted to try to find neutral sounding holiday greetings, while Brits have chosen to make Christmas as open to everyone as possible.

Personally, I think the Brits have this one right. I'd rather be able to wish people a Merry Christmas this week without having to worry if they'll be offended. I'd also rather have people wish me Happy Hanukkah, Happy Diwali or Eid Mubarak when those holidays come around. It makes me feel more a part of their celebration. Let's call each holiday what it is instead of trying to lump Jewish, Christian and even the Kwanzaa ritual together. If we need a generic holiday, we've already got the New Year, which touches all people and cultures.

Telling someone to "enjoy your holiday" or worse, sending them "seasons greetings" are cop-outs. Instead of feeling more diverse and inclusive, it just feels like someone took a bit of sparkle out of the December festivities.

Project Christmas: Hannah Yeoh Lift Up The Spirit Of Christmas,

Both the children from the girls’ and boys’ home were excited to celebrate Christmas early with the presence of YB Hannah Yeoh, Speaker of the Selangor State Assembly. In a move to symbolically represent ‘hope and future’ for the children, YB Hannah Yeoh together with the children had lighted up the “Dorsett Grand’s Wishing Tree.” The children’ wishes were then written on a card and placed on “Dorsett Grand’s Wishing Tree”.

Hailed in Penang, reviled in Johor Baru, Lithuanian artist moves on with more street murals.

Not wanting to be identified by the public, Lithuanian artist Ernest Zacharevic (pic) covers his face with a basket during a photo shoot at a cafe in Nagor Road, George Town, yesterday. – pic by Hasnoor Hussain, November 22, 2013.

His street murals have brought him fame in Penang in the past two years but last Wednesday Ernest Zacharevic became infamous when his commissioned Lego mural was whitewashed by the authorities in Johor Baru.

The 27-year-old Lithuanian artist described the incident as "not the most pleasant experience” but said it has sparked discussion on what public art was, the social understanding of art, its limits and boundaries, as well as the freedom of artistic expression, which is like the freedom of speech.

"As an artist, I will always stand for that and everyone is entitled to his or her own opinions," he told The Malaysian Insider at his Penang base in George Town yesterday.

‘I felt only love’: Disfigured man embraced by Pope Francis speaks out about the experience

The disfigured man whose meeting with Pope Francis made headlines all over the world has finally spoken out about the experience – and said the moment left him speechless.

Vinicio Riva, 53, suffers from neurofibromatosis Type 1, a rare genetic disorder which results in painful tumours on his face and body.

Speaking for the first time to the Italian magazine Panorama, Mr Riva said the moment captured by photographers in St Peter’s Square on 6 November “all lasted not more than a minute, but it seemed an eternity”, and that it was “like being in Paradise”.

Mr Riva told the magazine he had spent a lifetime living on the margins of society in Vicenza, northern Italy, where his younger sisters and late mother also suffered from the same rare disease.

In the past he has made a number of visits to Lourdes, a Catholic shrine in France which is the site of thousands of religious pilgrimages every year, until a travelling companion this year suggested he go to Rome.

Mr Riva spoke of his shock when, after meeting Pope Francis and kissing his hand, the Pontiff then pulled the 53-year-old towards him.

“What most astonished me is that he didn’t think twice on embracing me,” Mr Riva said. “I’m not contagious, but he didn’t know. He just did it; he caressed all my face, and while he was doing that, I felt only love.

“I tried to speak, to tell him something, but I couldn't: The emotion was too strong.”

Afterwards, Mr Riva turned to his aunt who accompanied him to the Vatican and said: “Here I leave my pain.”

The interview with Panorama comes as Pope Francis’ popularity has never been higher. A YouGov poll released yesterday suggested that, since the Argentinian had taken on the highest office in the Catholic Church in March this year, he has made a sustained and positive public impression.

The survey found that only 3 per cent of people thought he had done a bad job since being made Pope, compared to the 11 per cent who though he would do a bad job when he was installed.

While 36 per cent of people said they had a negative opinion of the church before Pope Francis and still do, 17 per cent said he had made them think more positively about Catholocism.

Sultan tiada hak tentukan agama bukan Islam, kata pakar perundangan.

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Pemerintah negeri di Malaysia tidak mempunyai kuasa untuk menggantung atau menafikan hak beragama bukan Islam yang telah dijamin Perlembagaan Persekutuan, kata pakar perlembagaan Dr Abdul Aziz Bari (gambar).

The constitution protects us, so to speak. Stop meddling in our religion.

Undang-undang telah jelas menyebut kuasa pemerintah negeri, kata Aziz Bari setelah beberapa hari Sultan Selangor, Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah mengingatkan bukan Islam di negeri itu tidak menggunakan kalimah Allah merujuk kepada tuhan seperti diputuskan Mahkamah Rayuan kira-kira sebulan lalu.

“Kuasa pemerintah semestinya perlu berdasarkan konteks Perlembagaan Persekutuan. Sultan selaku ketua agama hanya terpakai kepada orang Islam dalam negeri itu,” katanya kepada The Malaysian Insider.

Yes, it is true. The Sultan's of the states have limited powers and religion wise, it does not effect the rights of the non-Malays/Muslims. 

“Tetapi bukan Islam yang tinggal di negeri itu adalah di luar daripada arahan pemimpin berkenaan. Malah kepada orang Islam sendiri, titah yang dikeluarkan oleh pemimpin itu tidak bersifat mutlak kerana perlu berlandaskan undang-undang Islam,” katanya.

Sebagai contoh, beliau berkata seseorang pemerintah tidak boleh meminta penduduk negeri itu melakukan perkara bertentangan dengan undang-undang Islam.

Meskipun Perlembagaan Persekutuan menyatakan dengan jelas majlis agama tertakluk kepada kuasa pemerintah namun ia tidak berlaku sehingga menjadikan seseorang pemerintah itu boleh mengeluarkan undang-undangnya sendiri.

Abdul Aziz berkata apabila Perlembagaan Persekutuan dirangka, ketua negeri atau sultan dibenarkan mengekalkan kuasa agama di peringkat negeri tanpa gangguan kerajaan persekutuan.

Tetapi Perlembagaan Persekutuan dengan jelas tidak menggambarkan sultan menjangkaui apa yang telah digariskan dalam rukun Islam, katanya.

“Undang-undang Islam tidak menyatakan dengan jelas berhubung isu kalimah Allah. Pihak berkuasa agama di Timur Tengah yang lebih dahulu menerima Islam telah menyatakan pandangannnya bahawa larangan penggunaan kalimah Allah oleh bukan Islam satu perbuatan tidak berasas,” katanya.

Katanya, meskipun Mahkamah Rayuan memutuskan 14 Oktober lalu bagi membatalkan larangan Kementerian Dalam Negeri terhadap penerbitan Kristian, Herald bagi penggunaan kalimah Allah namun adalah lebih baik mahkamah yang lebih tinggi di Malaysia membuat keputusan akhir.

“Biarpun sultan bebas daripada dinasihati kerajaan bagi menggunakan kuasanya sebagai ketua agama di negeri tertentu, namun mereka masih di dalam batasan Perlembagaan Persekutuan,” katanya.

The Sultan Of Selangor