First Thai Catholic senator hopes to reflect Christian views

Published: 2008-03-11

BANGKOK, Thailand (CNS) -- Thailand's first Catholic senator hopes to be able to reflect her faith community's views as well as promote the rights of women and children, her area of expertise. Teresa Yuwadee Nimsomboon, 62, president of the Catholic Association of Thailand, was among 74 senators whose appointments recently were endorsed by the national election commission, reported UCA News, an Asian church news agency. "It is God's will that I have an opportunity to serve his people," Yuwadee told UCA News. "Besides working for women's and children's rights, I hope to be a voice for Catholics in Thailand." The 2007 Thai Constitution provides for the direct election of 76 members of the 150-seat Senate. A special selection committee chooses the other 74 senators from the list of qualified nominees forwarded by the election commission. An elected senator serves a six-year term and an appointed senator three years. Kirti Bunchua, an academic and one of the few Catholics to have served as a legislator, confirmed to UCA News that Yuwadee is the first Catholic senator.

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