Mathias Hariyadi

The president and the executive forget the fundamental values of the individual to satisfy "political games" and retain power. Christians demand freedom to practice their faith and build churches. In 2010 an exponential growth of violence and attacks against the faithful.

Islamic scholars comment papal speech to the diplomatic corps, saying that political leaders should follow religious values and be paragons of virtue for their society. Peace, love and dialogue among the various religions is the path to stop religious fundamentalism.

In the diocese of Ketapang, most Catholics live in remote, hard to get places. However, pastoral work does not stop, as evinced by the stories of Mgr Blasius Pujaraharja, the local bishop, and Fr Alexander Joko Purwanto Pr. Both stress that bringing the word of God needs a sound mind in a sound body.

In 2010 in Indonesia, human activity has caused the contamination of five lakes and 65 rivers. The religious have launched projects to promote the reforestation of entire areas ruined by speculators and timber barons. Environmentalists call for a review of the parameters on industrial waste.

The words of Benedict XVI a source of optimism. " The country rooted in the principles of Pancasila, which promote religious freedom and refers to "unity in diversity". Violence in the name of religion is "immoral," the pope "gifts us light."

In the diocese Fr. Deddy Setiawan Pr organizes a spiritual program for young Catholics over a series of meetings. The children come from poor families who can not send them to private Catholic schools because too expensive. In Indonesia, a Muslim-majority country, state institutions completely neglect the study of the Catholic religion.

One of the mountains favoured by tourists in Indonesia is once again active. Local authorities prohibit access, because of the amount of ash, which is destroying crops and tourism industry. The people must cover their faces with a mask to guard against the heat.

An order by Bogor Regency prohibits members of the Saint John the Baptist Catholic Church from engaging in any public activity, ostensibly because they lack a proper place of worship. Muslim extremist groups increasingly threaten Indonesia’s Christians.

The bishop of Padang warns against the systematic and organised spread of radical Islamic ideology. Political authorities are criticised for failing to stop the wave of violence. In the meantime, police is out in force to prevent anti-Christian violence over the Christmas period.

The authorities ban all Christian activities, citing as their reason the lack of a proper place of worship, which Catholics have been demanding for years without success. Increasingly, radical Muslims are becoming intolerant towards Christian groups.

In league with Indonesia’s police chief, Islamic Defender Front leader Risieq Shihab promises to protect Christians but only if their communities are authorised. Catholics and Protestants reject the offer because it would curtail religious freedom and negatively affect relations between Christians and local authorities, who alone have the right to provide security to churches.

The government and foreign organisations have left victims to their fate only weeks after the tsunami struck on 26 October because of high costs and difficult communications. Nine Caritas volunteers from Padang and other diocesan associations braved three-metre waves to bring aid to hundreds of families stuck on Sikakap and Sipora Islands for the past two months.