Singapore (Fides Service) - Catholic lawyers in Singapore agree that Christian values rather than the pursuit of riches ought to be the main force that drives them. On January 4 members of the newly established Catholic lawyers Guild attended a Mass at the Cathedral of the Good Shepherd in the centre of Singapore for the opening of the judicial year. This Mass, attended by judges, prosecutors, attorneys, law school professors, government officials, is called "Red" because the clergy wear red vestments and court personnel where their red togas since the Mass became a tradition years ago. Presiding the Mass Archbishop Nicholas Chia said that the members of the legal profession should focus on faith and regard legal service not just a profession but also a ministry.
The Guild formed officially on December 5, 2002, serves to bring together Singapore's 500 Catholic lawyer and other legal personnel. The chairman of the Guild, Jimmy Yim acknowledged that lawyers risk being influenced by materialism, pursuit of wealth, to the exclusion of moral values and the concepts of justice and mercy. "We need to come to terms with our profession and have our faith life lead us in our profession" said the Chairman. Lawyer Jimmy Yim was behind the formation of the Guild whose constitution states that the Guild exists to assist Catholic lawyers and other legal personnel to "reach holiness in the profession, through the practice of Christian virtues". (Fides Service 17/1/2003)