4 Sunday August 7, 2005 ■ CatholicNews

NEWS

The effects of seemingly

widespread belief in
God on Singapore
society is inconclusive, By Daniel Tay learning the church’s stand on
but Sister Wendy Ooi, issues such as social justice in the
fsp, is hopeful SINGAPORE – When Singapore business world. It was registered
Management University (SMU) last May and its chaplain is
begins its new semester on Father Frederick Quek.
“GOD AND US,” a Special August 22, Catholic students will “Undergraduates are in the
Report in The Straits Times of be looking for a convenient place stage of life where they are
July 16, reported that a huge to meet. Unlike the former SMU searching,” said Nicholas Chia,
majority of Singaporeans say campus in Bukit Timah, which 22, the President of FIDES. The
they believe in God. was small and compact, SMU’s head altar boy from the Church of
The survey of 622 residents new city campus sprawls over the the Holy Trinity added that the
aged 15 and above reveals that Bras Basah and Bugis area. aim of FIDES is to give Catholic
86% say they have a religion; of FIDES, the Catholic students students in the university a
the balance 14% (those who do society in SMU, is at the grounding in the faith which will
not have a religion), 70% say forefront of the Catholic students enable them to make faith
they believe in God. This means, movement at SMU. informed decisions.
if we take the numbers at face “We are currently
value, approximately 94% of looking into alternate
those surveyed believe in God. have anything to do with Nevertheless, as the locations for our
Considering that the nation is people in Singapore (and government becomes more open gatherings,” said Delphine
a thriving metropolis, a financial perhaps much of the world) and consultative, there is hope Goh, 23, a FIDES member.
hub, a sophisticated, giving God a place in their for changes in laws and “One good place is Cana.”
cosmopolitan society of educated lives. Perhaps the realisation practices where morality is of Cana – The Catholic
citizens and large numbers of that life can be cut short, of concern and for religion to play Centre is located on the
expatriates, Singapore, many death coming like “a thief in a role in those changes. The second level of the
would think, would be a place the night,” has awoken many to casino debate is hopefully a Catholic Welfare Services
where secularism would an awareness of God and precursor of better things to come. building on Waterloo
dominate. But the numbers perhaps a need for him. Even though many in Street. FIDES held its
indicate that the nation seems to But does this widespread Singapore had predicted that Freshmen Orientation Activity Nicholas Chia and Delphine Goh
be living up to its previous belief in God flow through to a the government would go ahead there on July 18. are active members of the SMU
tourism promotion slogan – higher standard of morality? with the development of The third year undergraduate Catholic students movement.
Surprising Singapore! It is Perhaps not. casinos regardless of what who attends Mass at the Church
surprising to find that such a high Teenage promiscuity, for one, different interest groups might of the Risen Christ was initially
proportion of the population is on the rise. A survey conducted say, it is also true that the apprehensive about joining “We hope that FIDES will
believe in the divine. in 2002 found that nearly one in different major religions in FIDES, but now finds the help our Catholic students to get
Why is this so? Singapore’s five Singaporeans aged 13-18 Singapore at least had their say, organisation to be a good way to to know God better and
location at the crossroads of have had sexual intercourse. and many, like the Catholic stand firmly on her spiritual understand why some things are
Asia, the home of many ancient Health Ministry records showed Church, spoke clearly. foundation in an exciting secular the way they are in the church,”
faiths, may have played a part. that an average of 1,574 One thing we can really university. Nicholas said passionately.
Yet, ironically, the survey finds teenagers had abortions every appreciate of Singapore is our FIDES began as an informal For information about FIDES
that the rate of conversion to year between 1998 and 2004. racial and religious harmony. gathering of Catholic students visit: http://links.smu.edu.sg/cca/
Christianity is the highest Singapore law allows It is my hope that with such who recognized the importance of fides/ ■
among the major religions. abortion and capital punishment a strong majority of believers in
I wonder if the horrendous and these practices are readily Singapore, more efforts will be
events in the not so distant past accepted by society generally. made by religions, either acting
like 9/11, the Bali bombing, the Changing the status quo on on their own or in concert in
tsunami disaster, and other these two issues, which are of inter-faith organisations, to
terrorist attacks – the most major concern for the Catholic raise the morality of the society.
recent, in London and Egypt – Church, is difficult. ■

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second year. ■