Murphy Nicholas Xavier Pakiam
Encyclopedia
Murphy Nicholas Xavier Pakiam (born 6 December 1938) is the third metropolitan archbishop of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Archbishop Pakiam was born in Tapah
, Perak
and was ordained into the priesthood on 10 May 1964. He was appointed metropolitan archbishop of Kuala Lumpur
on 24 May 2003, and was installed five days later. Pakiam is the former president of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of Malaysia, Singapore and Brunei
; and the publisher of the Catholic weekly newspaper, The Herald
.
In 2007, Pakiam filed for a judicial review
after The Herald was ordered to stop using the Arabic word "Allah
" in its publication by the Malaysian government. In 2009, the High Court overturned the government's ban of the word. In 2010, he accepted the public apology of Al-Islam magazine, which had sent two reporters to a Catholic church the year before, where they desecrated
the Eucharist
.
St. John's Cathedral
in Kuala Lumpur is the seat of Archbishop Pakiam, and the cathedral church of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Kuala Lumpur.
Pakiam was born in Tapah, Perak, on the feast day of the popular saint of children, St. Nicholas. Educated at the Sultan Yusuf School in Batu Gajah
, he entered the minor seminary
in 1955 and started his priestly formation at the College General
in Penang
three years later. Pakiam was ordained a priest
on 10 May 1964, and served as assistant priest at the Church of St. Louis, Taiping
. The following year, he was posted to the Church of St. Francis Xavier in Penang and became the Parish Priest of the Church of Our Lady of Lourdes, Silibin, Ipoh
from 1970-72.
Pakiam completed his studies for a Masters
in Moral Theology (Ethics) at the Lateran University in Rome
in 1974, and upon his return to Malaysia, became a lecturer at Penang's College General. In 1978, he was appointed Rector
of the College General and served two terms. In 1989, he received his Masters in Guidance and Counselling from the De La Salle University
, Manila
, Philippines
. He then served as Parish Priest of the Church of the Nativity in Butterworth
from 1989-95.
He was appointed as the auxiliary bishop
of Kuala Lumpur
and titular bishop
of Chunavia on 1 April 1995, and ordained titular bishop of Chunavia, Epirus Nova, known as an Episcopal Ordination, on 4 October 1995 at the College General in Penang.
On 24 May 2003, Pakiam succeeded Anthony Soter Fernandez
, who resigned due to ill health, as metropolitan archbishop of Kuala Lumpur. His installation took place five days later, on 29 May 2003. His principal consecrator
was Archbishop Anthony Fernandez and principal co-consecrators were Bishop
James Chan Soon Cheong and Bishop Anthony Selvanayagam. He was the president of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of Malaysia, Singapore and Brunei
.
Cross on yellow background: Symbol of Jesus, the Light of the world.
Blue wavy lines: Symbol of the Holy Spirit
, the river of Living Waters.
Chalice & Host: The Sacraments of the Church.
Bible: The Word of God.
The letter 'M': Mary, Mother of the Church, representing all the saints.
Keys: Symbol of the Apostolic authority in the Church.
Green background: Symbolises the new life obtained through the Mercy and Peace of God.
. Malaysia’s home minister has the power to impose prohibition as a condition under the Printing Presses and Publication Act of 1984. In the case of The Herald, Home Minister Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Albar prohibited the usage of the word "Allah" on the grounds of national security and to avoid misunderstanding and confusion among Muslims.
On 31 December 2009, the High Court overturned the government ban on the use of the word "Allah" by The Herald. Justice Lau Bee Lan quashed the Home Minister's prohibition against The Herald to use the word "Allah", declaring the order as "illegal, null and void". She declared that under Article 3(1) of the Federal Constitution, applicant Archbishop Tan Sri Pakiam had the constitutional right to use "Allah" in The Herald in the exercise of his right that religions other than Islam might be practised in peace and harmony in the country.
Group, sent its reporters including one Muhd Ridwan Abdul Jalil, to two churches in the Klang Valley
, as part of a special investigative report. The act of desecration occurred at St Anthony's Church in Jalan Robertson, Kuala Lumpur.
Archbishop Pakiam, the Catholic Lawyers Society, as well as numerous editorials in the media, criticised the Attorney-General for its failure to take any action on the desecration
.
Nine months later, in March 2010, Al-Islam published an apology to the Roman Catholic Church and Christians for the article. The public apology was posted on the website of its publisher. Archbishop Pakiam accepted the apology and said that no further legal action would be taken against the magazine or its publishers.
Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin
, made Pakiam a Member of the Order for Important Services or "Panglima Jasa Negara" (PJN), which carries the title "Datuk". In 2008, the Yang di-Pertuan Agong Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin made him Commander of the Order of the Crown of Malaysia
, or Panglima Setia Mahkota (PSM), which allows the recipients to use the title "Tan Sri". This title is the second most senior federal title in Malaysia, and there may only be up to a maximum of 250 living PSM holders at any time.
Archbishop Pakiam was born in Tapah
Tapah
Tapah is the administrative town of the district Batang Padang, Perak, Malaysia .The name "Tapah" is said to be originated from the name of a fresh water fish, "Ikan Tapah"...
, Perak
Perak
Perak , one of the 13 states of Malaysia, is the second largest state in the Peninsular Malaysia bordering Kedah and Yala Province of Thailand to the north, Penang to the northwest, Kelantan and Pahang to the east, Selangor the Strait of Malacca to the south and west.Perak means silver in Malay...
and was ordained into the priesthood on 10 May 1964. He was appointed metropolitan archbishop of Kuala Lumpur
Kuala Lumpur
Kuala Lumpur is the capital and the second largest city in Malaysia by population. The city proper, making up an area of , has a population of 1.4 million as of 2010. Greater Kuala Lumpur, also known as the Klang Valley, is an urban agglomeration of 7.2 million...
on 24 May 2003, and was installed five days later. Pakiam is the former president of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of Malaysia, Singapore and Brunei
Catholic Bishops' Conference of Malaysia, Singapore and Brunei
The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Malaysia, Singapore and Brunei is the episcopal conference of the Catholic bishops of Malaysia, Singapore and Brunei...
; and the publisher of the Catholic weekly newspaper, The Herald
The Herald (Malaysian Catholic Weekly)
-Circulation:It has a circulation of 14,000 copies in Malaysia. It is printed in English, Malay, Tamil and Chinese, and meant for distribution to Malaysian Catholics.-Newspaper sections:*Cover News*Forum & Reflection*Home News*International News*Editorial...
.
In 2007, Pakiam filed for a judicial review
Judicial review
Judicial review is the doctrine under which legislative and executive actions are subject to review by the judiciary. Specific courts with judicial review power must annul the acts of the state when it finds them incompatible with a higher authority...
after The Herald was ordered to stop using the Arabic word "Allah
Allah
Allah is a word for God used in the context of Islam. In Arabic, the word means simply "God". It is used primarily by Muslims and Bahá'ís, and often, albeit not exclusively, used by Arabic-speaking Eastern Catholic Christians, Maltese Roman Catholics, Eastern Orthodox Christians, Mizrahi Jews and...
" in its publication by the Malaysian government. In 2009, the High Court overturned the government's ban of the word. In 2010, he accepted the public apology of Al-Islam magazine, which had sent two reporters to a Catholic church the year before, where they desecrated
Host desecration
Host desecration is a form of sacrilege in Christianity involving the mistreatment or malicious use of a consecrated host— the sacred bread used in the Eucharistic service or Mass...
the Eucharist
Eucharist
The Eucharist , also called Holy Communion, the Sacrament of the Altar, the Blessed Sacrament, the Lord's Supper, and other names, is a Christian sacrament or ordinance...
.
St. John's Cathedral
St. John's Cathedral, Kuala Lumpur
St John's Cathedral is a whitewashed cathedral with twin spires, located to the north of Kuala Lumpur, the capital city of Malaysia. It is the Mother Church of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Kuala Lumpur and the seat of its Archbishop, Murphy Nicholas Xavier Pakiam. It was opened in 1883, making...
in Kuala Lumpur is the seat of Archbishop Pakiam, and the cathedral church of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Kuala Lumpur.
Background
Batu Gajah
Batu Gajah is a town located in the state of Perak in Malaysia, about 24 km from Ipoh, the Perak state capital.-Origins and History:...
, he entered the minor seminary
Minor seminary
A minor seminary is a secondary boarding school created for the specific purpose of enrolling teenage boys who have expressed interest in becoming priests. They are generally Roman Catholic institutions, and designed to prepare boys both academically and spiritually for vocations to the priesthood...
in 1955 and started his priestly formation at the College General
College General
The College General is a Roman Catholic seminary located in Tanjung Bungah, Penang, Malaysia. The college's foundation can be traced back to the 1665 establishment of the Seminary of Saint Joseph in Ayuthia which was then the capital of Siam .- Ayuthia :The College General traces its history to...
in Penang
Penang
Penang is a state in Malaysia and the name of its constituent island, located on the northwest coast of Peninsular Malaysia by the Strait of Malacca. It is bordered by Kedah in the north and east, and Perak in the south. Penang is the second smallest Malaysian state in area after Perlis, and the...
three years later. Pakiam was ordained a priest
Priest
A priest is a person authorized to perform the sacred rites of a religion, especially as a mediatory agent between humans and deities. They also have the authority or power to administer religious rites; in particular, rites of sacrifice to, and propitiation of, a deity or deities...
on 10 May 1964, and served as assistant priest at the Church of St. Louis, Taiping
Taiping, Perak
Taiping is a town located in northern Perak, Malaysia. With a population of 191,104 , it is the second largest town in Perak after Ipoh, the state capital. Taiping took over Kuala Kangsar's role as the state capital from 1876 to 1937, but was then replaced by Ipoh...
. The following year, he was posted to the Church of St. Francis Xavier in Penang and became the Parish Priest of the Church of Our Lady of Lourdes, Silibin, Ipoh
Ipoh
Ipoh is the capital city of Perak state, Malaysia. It is approximately 200 km north of Kuala Lumpur on the North-South Expressway....
from 1970-72.
Pakiam completed his studies for a Masters
Master's degree
A master's is an academic degree granted to individuals who have undergone study demonstrating a mastery or high-order overview of a specific field of study or area of professional practice...
in Moral Theology (Ethics) at the Lateran University in Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
in 1974, and upon his return to Malaysia, became a lecturer at Penang's College General. In 1978, he was appointed Rector
Rector
The word rector has a number of different meanings; it is widely used to refer to an academic, religious or political administrator...
of the College General and served two terms. In 1989, he received his Masters in Guidance and Counselling from the De La Salle University
De La Salle University
De La Salle University is a private Lasallian university in Malate, Manila, Philippines. It was founded in 1911 by De La Salle Brothers as the De La Salle College in Paco, Manila with Blimond Pierre serving as its first director...
, Manila
Manila
Manila is the capital of the Philippines. It is one of the sixteen cities forming Metro Manila.Manila is located on the eastern shores of Manila Bay and is bordered by Navotas and Caloocan to the north, Quezon City to the northeast, San Juan and Mandaluyong to the east, Makati on the southeast,...
, Philippines
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
. He then served as Parish Priest of the Church of the Nativity in Butterworth
Butterworth, Penang
Butterworth is the principal town of Seberang Perai in the state of Penang in Malaysia. Named after William John Butterworth, Governor of the Straits Settlements , Butterworth was established in the mid-19th century as a landing place across the channel from the capital of Penang, George Town...
from 1989-95.
He was appointed as the auxiliary bishop
Auxiliary bishop
An auxiliary bishop, in the Roman Catholic Church, is an additional bishop assigned to a diocese because the diocesan bishop is unable to perform his functions, the diocese is so extensive that it requires more than one bishop to administer, or the diocese is attached to a royal or imperial office...
of Kuala Lumpur
Kuala Lumpur
Kuala Lumpur is the capital and the second largest city in Malaysia by population. The city proper, making up an area of , has a population of 1.4 million as of 2010. Greater Kuala Lumpur, also known as the Klang Valley, is an urban agglomeration of 7.2 million...
and titular bishop
Titular bishop
A titular bishop in various churches is a bishop who is not in charge of a diocese.By definition a bishop is an "overseer" of a community of the faithful, so when a priest is ordained a bishop the tradition of the Roman Catholic and Orthodox churches is that he be ordained for a specific place...
of Chunavia on 1 April 1995, and ordained titular bishop of Chunavia, Epirus Nova, known as an Episcopal Ordination, on 4 October 1995 at the College General in Penang.
On 24 May 2003, Pakiam succeeded Anthony Soter Fernandez
Anthony Soter Fernandez
Anthony Soter Fernandez is Archbishop Emeritus of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. He became the Archdiocese's second Archbishop upon his appointment on 30 July 1983 by Pope John Paul II, and was installed on 10 November 1983...
, who resigned due to ill health, as metropolitan archbishop of Kuala Lumpur. His installation took place five days later, on 29 May 2003. His principal consecrator
Consecrator
Consecrator is a term used in the Roman Catholic Church to designate a bishop who ordains a priest to the episcopal state. The term is often used in Eastern Rite Churches and in Anglican communities. The term "Principal Consecrator" is used to designate the primary bishop who ordains a new bishop...
was Archbishop Anthony Fernandez and principal co-consecrators were Bishop
Bishop
A bishop is an ordained or consecrated member of the Christian clergy who is generally entrusted with a position of authority and oversight. Within the Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox Churches, in the Assyrian Church of the East, in the Independent Catholic Churches, and in the...
James Chan Soon Cheong and Bishop Anthony Selvanayagam. He was the president of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of Malaysia, Singapore and Brunei
Catholic Bishops' Conference of Malaysia, Singapore and Brunei
The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Malaysia, Singapore and Brunei is the episcopal conference of the Catholic bishops of Malaysia, Singapore and Brunei...
.
Coat of arms
Hat & Tassels: Symbols of an Archbishop of the Roman Catholic Church.Cross on yellow background: Symbol of Jesus, the Light of the world.
Blue wavy lines: Symbol of the Holy Spirit
Holy Spirit
Holy Spirit is a term introduced in English translations of the Hebrew Bible, but understood differently in the main Abrahamic religions.While the general concept of a "Spirit" that permeates the cosmos has been used in various religions Holy Spirit is a term introduced in English translations of...
, the river of Living Waters.
Chalice & Host: The Sacraments of the Church.
Bible: The Word of God.
The letter 'M': Mary, Mother of the Church, representing all the saints.
Keys: Symbol of the Apostolic authority in the Church.
Green background: Symbolises the new life obtained through the Mercy and Peace of God.
Allah judicial review
By virtue of his position as archbishop of Kuala Lumpur, Pakiam is the publisher of The Herald, a weekly Catholic newspaper. In 2007, The Herald and Pakiam, as its publisher, filed for a judicial review after it was ordered to stop using the Arabic word "Allah" in its publication by the Malaysian Ministry of Home AffairsMinistry of Home Affairs (Malaysia)
Ministry of Home Affairs in Malaysia is a Malaysian government ministry in charge of domestic affairs such as public safety, civil defence and immigration.- British colony :...
. Malaysia’s home minister has the power to impose prohibition as a condition under the Printing Presses and Publication Act of 1984. In the case of The Herald, Home Minister Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Albar prohibited the usage of the word "Allah" on the grounds of national security and to avoid misunderstanding and confusion among Muslims.
On 31 December 2009, the High Court overturned the government ban on the use of the word "Allah" by The Herald. Justice Lau Bee Lan quashed the Home Minister's prohibition against The Herald to use the word "Allah", declaring the order as "illegal, null and void". She declared that under Article 3(1) of the Federal Constitution, applicant Archbishop Tan Sri Pakiam had the constitutional right to use "Allah" in The Herald in the exercise of his right that religions other than Islam might be practised in peace and harmony in the country.
Al-Islam magazine
In 2009, two Muslim reporters from Al-Islam, a small Malaysian magazine, participated in a Catholic Mass and received Holy Communion, which they then spat out and photographed. The resulting photo was then published in their May 2009 edition. The magazine, which is owned by Utusan Karya, part of the Utusan MalaysiaUtusan Malaysia
Utusan Malaysia is a Malay language pro-government newspaper in Malaysia. First published in Jawi, the newspaper is now published in romanised letters...
Group, sent its reporters including one Muhd Ridwan Abdul Jalil, to two churches in the Klang Valley
Klang Valley
Klang Valley is an area in Malaysia comprising Kuala Lumpur and its suburbs, and adjoining cities and towns in the state of Selangor. An alternative reference to this would be Kuala Lumpur Metropolitan Area or Greater Kuala Lumpur. It is geographically delineated by Titiwangsa Mountains to the...
, as part of a special investigative report. The act of desecration occurred at St Anthony's Church in Jalan Robertson, Kuala Lumpur.
Archbishop Pakiam, the Catholic Lawyers Society, as well as numerous editorials in the media, criticised the Attorney-General for its failure to take any action on the desecration
Host desecration
Host desecration is a form of sacrilege in Christianity involving the mistreatment or malicious use of a consecrated host— the sacred bread used in the Eucharistic service or Mass...
.
Nine months later, in March 2010, Al-Islam published an apology to the Roman Catholic Church and Christians for the article. The public apology was posted on the website of its publisher. Archbishop Pakiam accepted the apology and said that no further legal action would be taken against the magazine or its publishers.
Honours
In 2005, the King of Malaysia, the Yang di-Pertuan AgongYang di-Pertuan Agong
The Yang di-Pertuan Agong is the head of state of Malaysia. The office was established in 1957 when the Federation of Malaya gained independence....
Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin
Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin
Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin ibni Tuanku Syed Putra Jamalullail is the current Raja of Perlis, reigning since 17 April 2000. He served as the 12th Yang di-Pertuan Agong from 13 December 2001 to 12 December 2006 and 7th Raja of Perlis since 2000....
, made Pakiam a Member of the Order for Important Services or "Panglima Jasa Negara" (PJN), which carries the title "Datuk". In 2008, the Yang di-Pertuan Agong Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin made him Commander of the Order of the Crown of Malaysia
Order of the Crown of Malaysia
The Most Esteemed Order of the Crown of Malaysia is a Malaysian federal award presented for meritorious service to the country. The order was instituted on 15 April 1966. The order has three ranks:...
, or Panglima Setia Mahkota (PSM), which allows the recipients to use the title "Tan Sri". This title is the second most senior federal title in Malaysia, and there may only be up to a maximum of 250 living PSM holders at any time.
External links
- Metropolitan Archdiocese of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia - official website