The Name of God

Makes the Western, predominantly Christian world's Should-We-Pronounce-The-Unpronounceable-Name-Of-God liturgical arguments, (and I did hear actual arguments) ; the who-owns-the-texts-of-the-Mass campaign in blogdom; and the tiffs over which Bible translation, (in general, or Psalter in particular,) we should use quite tame.

Malaysian Muslim have objected to Catholics referring to God as "God," (or in their language, referring to Allah as "Allah.")

And now a publisher has weighed in by flogging a non-approved Bible translation, the use of which by Catholics that will make the Islamic majority happy.

Islam owns the rights to God's name?

The Catholic Church has taken legal action against the government after it was ordered not to use the disputed word ["Allah"] under threat of having its paper's publishing permit revoked.

Malaysian authorities argue the word should be used only by Muslims, who form the bulk of the country's multicultural population.

[The Catholic Herald's editor Father Lawrence] Andrew said Malaysian Christians have been using the word "Allah" for centuries in translations of the Bible, and in popular prayers. The opposition has also called for the ban to be revoked.

"The term 'Allah' has been used in Indonesia and the Middle East by Christians without prosecution or controversy, despite both being overwhelmingly Muslim-majority regions," opposition lawmaker Tony Pua said.

"It has been proven beyond doubt that it is not a term specifically monopolised only by Muslims," he said in a statement Saturday.

Pray for the Catholics, no, pray for the people of Malaysia.