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Background
Bridging Justice and Faith: CLS, Guided by Grace Since 1994
A pro-tem committee was set up and duly registered as a society on Oct 7, 1994 under the Societies Act, Malaysia. The founding patron is His Grace Anthony Soter Fernandez, 2nd Archbishop of Kuala Lumpur and 3rd Bishop of Penang. His Grace appointed Rev. Fr. O.C. Lim, SJ as the Society’s first Ecclesiastical Assistant. The current patron of the Society is His Grace Julian Leow Beng Kim, Archbishop of Kuala Lumpur. His Grace was ordained priest on 20 April 2002. He was appointed Archbishop of Kuala Lumpur on 3 July 2014 and installed as the Archbishop of Kuala Lumpur on 6 October 2014. CLS has been blessed to have Catholic men and women from the legal profession come forward to serve and lead the Society. As volunteers, these individuals have lent their time, talents and expertise in a manner that has brought recognition and honour to CLS and to the Catholic community.
Catholic Legal Advocacy: Promoting Justice, Fellowship, and Faith
- Ceclia Fernandez
- Dato' Sir Dr. Peter Mooney
- Jeffrey Fernandez
- Leonard Teoh
- Leonard Foo
- Franklin Goonting
- Agatha Foo
- Francis Brigged
- Kem Kumar Lopez
- Gerald Newton John
- Noel Fernandez
History
The Catholic Lawyers Society Kuala Lumpur (CLS) was initiated in March 23, 1992 by the following:
1. Ceclia Fernandez
2. Dato’ Sir Dr. Peter Mooney
3. Jeffrey Fernandez
4. Leonard Teoh
5. Leonard Foo
6. Mrs Leonard Foo
7. Franklin Goonting
8. Agatha Foo
9. Francis Brigged
10. Kem Kumar Lopez
11. Gerald Newton John
12. Noel Fernandez
A pro-tem committee was set up and duly registered as a society on Oct 7, 1994 under the Societies Act, Malaysia.
The founding patron is His Grace Anthony Soter Fernandez, 2nd Archbishop of Kuala Lumpur and 3rd Bishop of Penang. His Grace appointed Rev. Fr. O.C. Lim, SJ as the Society’s first Ecclesiastical Assistant.
The current patron of the Society is His Grace Julian Leow Beng Kim, Archbishop of Kuala Lumpur. His Grace was ordained priest on 20 April 2002. He was appointed Archbishop of Kuala Lumpur on 3 July 2014 and installed as the Archbishop of Kuala Lumpur on 6 October 2014.
CLS has been blessed to have Catholic men and women from the legal profession come forward to serve and lead the Society. As volunteers, these individuals have lent their time, talents and expertise in a manner that has brought recognition and honour to CLS and to the Catholic community.
Founder's Message
Looking Back
[Editor’s note: Ceclia Fernandez is a founder member and the first President of The Catholic Lawyers’ Society Kuala Lumpur]
At a gathering of the Catholic Press and journalists sometime in early 1990 at Cardign House in Kuala Lumpur to which I was invited as an observer, His Grace Archbishop Soter Fernandez seeing me remarked “The Catholic doctors have long formed their own association, why haven’t the Catholic Lawyers formed one?” The seed was sown; I became interested. The question was who would take the initiative. Having sounded a few eminent catholic lawyers and not getting a positive response, I took a rather bold step at the spur of the moment.
In March 1992 after a brief discussion with Dato Dr. Peter Mooney, I wrote to about 30 lawyers with Christian names who I selected from the legal directory explaining to them the need for establishing a Catholic Lawyers’ Society for the purpose, inter alia, of sanctifying our lives, our professional lives so that our service to society would have a Christian stamp, characterised by justice and truth.
At the time of writing the letter, I had in mind the challenge of the oath I took at my call to the Bar to “speak the truth and nothing but the truth” before the judge. We know too well that the Rule of Law is not always in the Spirit of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Therefore I felt that, we as a body of Catholic Lawyers’ need to be rooted in the Word, Jesus Christ, the Truth, the Way and the Life. And we need one another, we need to unite and pray and serve one another. I found the Catholic Lawyers’ Society to be a united force for the good of all the lawyers, the Church and the society.
The First Meeting
Looking back to my letter, twelve lawyers responded and attended the first meeting which was held at Dato Dr. Peter Mooney’s residence on 23rd March 1992. All present at the meeting unanimously approved the establishment of the Catholic Lawyers’ Society and a pro-tem committee was set up, regular meetings were held and the Catholic Lawyers’ Society was registered by the Registrar of Societies on 7th October 1994. It was a great day for us. God has blessed the efforts of the 12 original members, sincere, generous in service and united in purpose.
His Grace Archbishop Soter Fernandez gave us his unstinting guidance, encouragement and above all his blessings. I am most grateful to him. More blessings; our Spiritual Director Rev. Fr. O.C. Lim SJ was once a prominent lawyer. His advice and spiritual directions given to us are invaluable.
The Future
There is much work to be done. We hope for more young lawyers to join the Society. The future of the Catholic Lawyers’ Society depends on them as witnesses of Christ, working for justice and peace. The membership currently stands at about 90.
His Grace Archbishop Soter Fernandez gave us his unstinting guidance, encouragement and above all his blessings. I am most grateful to him. More blessings; our Spiritual Director Rev. Fr. O.C. Lim SJ was once a prominent lawyer. His advice and spiritual directions given to us are invaluable.
The logo
Society's Emblem
Background
The Catholic Lawyers Society Kuala Lumpur (CLS) emblem is a circle encompassing the scales of justice flanked by a dove and the Latin words “Spiritus Legis”.
The circle, dove and the Latin words are in gold, while the scales of justice are in white.
Designed by James Selva.
Meaning
The symbols, words and colours used represent the following:
- circle : the world
- scales : justice
- dove : Holy Spirit
- “Spiritus Legis” : Spirit of the Law
Annual Red Mass
Seeking Divine Guidance for Justice Seekers
A Red Mass is a Mass celebrated annually in the Catholic Church for lawyers, judges and government officials. The Mass requests guidance from the Holy Spirit for all who seek justice, and offers the opportunity to reflect on what Catholics believe is the God-given power and responsibility of all in the legal profession.
History
The custom of a special Mass for the Bench and Bar arose in the early 13th century, with the first recorded Red Mass being celebrated in Paris in 1245.
In England, the tradition of the Red Mass began about 1310. The entire Bench and Bar attended the Red Mass together at the opening of each term of Court. The Mass was celebrated in honour of the Holy Spirit, for which red vestments were worn. The judges of the High Court at that time, who were all doctors of law, also wore red robes. Hence, the celebrations became popularly known as the Red Mass.
Today
The Catholic Lawyers’ Society of Kuala Lumpur celebrates this glorious Mass annually and the appellation “Red Mass” customarily refers to the Mass initiating the legal year of the Society. The Society celebrated its first Red Mass in the year 1995 and was presided then by His Most Reverend Anthony Soter Fernandez, Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia together with other members of the clergy.
Today the Red Mass is attended by lawyers, judges and government officials of all faiths who ask God to bless, strengthen, and enlighten civic and religious leaders, all servants of the law, and all people of faith, so that in cooperation and mutual trust, justice and freedom for all may be more effectively achieved.
Red Mass Celebrations
No. | Year | Celebrant | President |
1. | 1995 | Most Rev. Archbishop Soter Fernandez (Archbishop of Kuala Lumpur) | Cecilia Fernandez (Oct 1994 – Mar 1997) |
2. | 1996 | Most Rev. Archbishop Soter Fernandez (Archbishop of Kuala Lumpur) | Cecila Fernandez |
3. | 1997 | Rt Rev. Bishop Anthony Selvanayagam (Bishop of Penang) | Cecilia Fernandez |
4. | 1998 | Rt Rev Bishop Murphy Pakiam (Auxiliary Bishop of Kuala Lumpur) | Kem Kumar Lopez (Mar 1997 – Mar 1999) |
5. | 1999 | Rt. Rev. Bishop James Chan (Bishop of Malacca – Johore) | Kem Kumar Lopez |
6. | 2000 | Most Rev. Archbishop Soter Fernandez (Kuala Lumpur) | Leonard Teoh (Mar 1999 – Mar 2001) |
7. | 2001 | Rt Rev. Bishop Carlos Belo (Bishop of Dili, East Timor) | Leonard Teoh |
8. | 2002 | Most Rev. Archbishop Adriano Bernardini (Apostolic Delegate to Malaysia) | Francis Brigged (Mar 2001 – Mar 2003) |
9. | 2003 | Most Rev. Archbishop Nicholas Chia (Archbishop of Singapore) | Francis Brigged |
10. | 2004 | Rt Rev Bishop Paul Tan (Bishop of Malacca-Johore) | Chan Yat Hee (Mar 2003 – Mar 2004) |
11. | 2005 | Most Rev. Archbishop Salvatore Pennacchio (Apostolic Delegate to Malaysia) | Genevieve Yee Geok Lay (Mar 2004 – Mar 2005) |
12. | 2006 | Most Rev. Archbishop John Ha (Archbishop of Kuching) | Francis Pereira (Mar 2005 – Mar 2007) |
13. | 2007 | Rt Rev. Bishop Anthony Lee (Bishop of Miri) | Francis Pereira |
14. | 2008 | Most Rev. Archbishop Emeritus Soter Fernandez (Kuala Lumpur) | Chrishanthini Sebastiampillai (Mar 2007 – Mar 2008) |
15. | 2009 | Rev. Fr. Simon Labrooy (Parish Priest Church of St. Thomas More) | Mabel Sabastian (Mar 2008 – Mar 2010) |
16. | 2010 | Rev. Fr. Lawrence Andrew (The Herald Editor, Parish Priest St. Anne, Port Klang) | Mabel Sabastian |
17. | 2011 | Rt Rev. Bishop Joseph Hii (Auxiliary Bishop of Sibu) | Joy Appukuttan (Mar 2010 – Mar 2013) |
| 18. | 2012 | Rt Rev. Bishop Cornelius Sim (Bishop of Brunei) | Joy Appukuttan |
| 19. | 2013 | Rt Rev. Bishop Sebastian Francis (Bishop of Penang) | Joy Appukuttan |
| 20. | 2014 | Archbishop Joseph Marino (Apostolic Nuncio, Malaysia) | Viola De Cruz Silva (Mar 2013 – Mar 2015) |
| 21. | 2015 | Most Rev. Archbishop Julian Leow Beng Kim (Archbishop of Kuala Lumpur) | Viola De Cruz Silva |
| 22. | 2016 | Most Rev. Archbishop Julian Leow Beng Kim (Archbishop of Kuala Lumpur) | Allen Miranda (Mar 2015 – Present) |
Saint Thomas More (1478-1535)
Patron Saint For Lawyers And Judges
Born on 7th February 1478, Thomas More is remembered for his steadfast opposition to Henry VIII’s Act of Succession that cost him his life.
More was called to the utter bar of Lincoln’s Inn in 1496 and elected a Member of Parliament in 1504. More married Jane Colte in 1505 and on her demise he married the widow, Alice Middteton in 1511.
Appointed Chancellor of England
In 1516 he published his most famous book Utopia. As a wit and reformer, he found favour with the King that saw him being knighted in 1521 and made sub-treasurer to the king.
In 1523 he was elected Speaker of the House of Commons. In 1529 More succeeded the renowned Cardinal Wolsey as Chancellor of England becoming the first layman to assume the post. He also had equal unparallel success as a judge.
Beheaded For High Treason
When Henry VIII issued a royal proclamation in 1530 that declared him the “Supreme Head” of the Church, More tendered his resignation as chancellor. His resignation however was not accepted. More continued to firmly oppose Henry’s opinions on divorce, the papal supremacy, and the laws against heretics. His opposition speedily lost him the royal favour. In May, 1532, he resigned as Lord Chancellor.
In March, 1534, the Act of Succession was passed that required all to inter alia take an oath to repudiate the papal supremacy. On 14 April 1535, More was summoned to take the oath and on his refusal he was indicted for high treason. On 1 July, More was found guilty and sentenced to be hanged, which sentence was subsequently substituted by Henry to beheading. On the scaffold, he told the crowd of spectators that he was dying as “the King’s servant, but God’s first”. The execution took place on 6th July 1535.
Thomas More was formally beatified by Pope Leo in 1886 and canonized by Pope Pius XI in 1935.
Adopted By The Society
At the invitation of Archbishop Anthony Soter Fernandez, the Catholic Lawyers’ Society Kuala Lumpur adopted St Thomas More as its patron Saint.
The celebration of our patron’s feast-day is always a timely reminder to members of the society to walk in the ways of St. Thomas More; namely, to keep the faith (especially during trials and tribulations) and be vigilant in carrying out their responsibilities as Catholic lawyers.
