Jakarta (AsiaNews) - The project to create a "common house" for the faithful of all religions "is certainly a good idea" but is "too early" to be practicable because "we are still appalled at the images of our fellow citizens, carrying knives, stones and sticks, who commit violent acts, destroy others' property and even kill". So says Mgr. Johannes Pujasumarta Pr, Archbishop of Semarang (Java), stressing that they are "personally horrified to see what has happened recently in Cikeusik and Temanggung.
The Secretary General of the Indonesian Bishops Conference (KWI) looks back at the Islamic extremist attacks against the Ahmadis - three victims - in the province of Banten and the assault on Christian churches in central Java. Incidents of sectarian violence that have raised, once again, the issue of religious freedom and Islamic fundamentalism in the world's most populous Muslim nation.
Msgr. Pujasumarta calls for calm and personal reflection, to help understand how brutal violence can happen "in our common home", Indonesia. The prelate calls for "more time" to pray and to "meet the Creator who created the human being to" take care of one another "and not to carry out violence and destruction.
In an interview with AsiaNews, the archbishop of Semarang said that recent sectarian attacks "have shocked a great number of Christians" and this requires "a specific moment of reflection and prayer." He also states that no one is authorized to "orchestrate" sensitive issues such as interfaith dialogue and called for a "joint project" for peace, so that every citizen can live free in their own country.
On 10 February, two days after the attack on churches, the bishop and some leading members of the diocese celebrated a special Mass in the area where the violence took place, which was attended by hundreds of faithful. "I sprinkled with holy water in every corner- said the bishop – so the church could be consecrated again." On February 9, however, Mgr. Pujasumarta "warmly" welcomed a delegation of the Nahdlatul Ulama (NU), the most important moderate Muslim group in the country, which wanted to show solidarity with the Christian victims of violence (see photo).
"Indonesia is a multiethnic and multicultural nation - said the secretary general of the bishops conference- and every Catholic [...] should join the effort promoted by the entire people, in order to reach a better quality of life for all."