What does the Church say when families break down?

The Federal Court is postponing making a decision in the appeal of a woman, Subashini, 28, trying to prevent her Muslim-convert husband from dissolving their marriage in the Syariah Court and converting their second son.

This is simply because the judgment is critical as it affects similar cases in the future.

Earlier in September last year, the Kuala Lumpur High Court had dismissed Subashini’s application to stop her husband Saravanan, 31, from resolving their marital problems in the Syariah Court.

When the case was brought to the Court of Appeal on March 13, the three judges had ruled in a 2-1 majority ordering her to take her divorce and custody claims to the Syariah Court.

However, thankfully, two weeks later, the same panel in a majority judgment, granted an injunction preventing Saravanan from initiating or continuing with any proceedings in the syariah courts or converting their younger son.

Meanwhile, both Subashini and Saravanan have yet to finalise their divorce. In the midst of all these, their two children – Dharvin Joshua, 4, and Sharvin, 1, are in limbo.

But I supposed they have been that way for awhile. While they may not fully understand what's going on around them, I'm sure the two have been picking up negative vibes from their parents and those embroiled in the fracas.

What we're looking at is a situation that points to two things:

One. The stand and role of the church in matters like this.

Two. Also the condition of families in the country. Which all of us know is not limited to unbelievers. We are all too familiar with dysfunctional homes among Christians.

For the first part, we know that the Christian Federation of Malaysia (CFM) has expressed its concern over the decision of the Court of Appeal. In a press statement in March, the federation stressed that the Federal Constitution, as the supreme law of Malaysia, should secure the rights of all non-Muslim citizens in seeking justice in civil courts.

Bishop Paul Tan, the Chairman of CFM concluded by urging all elected members of Parliament to defend the Constitution and safeguard the rights of non-Muslim citizens.

For your information, the Christian Federation of Malaysia, incorporating the Council of Churches of Malaysia (CCM), the National Evangelical Christian Fellowship (NECF), and the Roman Catholics, was formed in 1986.

But what about the second point?

Are you aware of the pain around us? Are you part of this kind of pain?

What does it matter to you?