Catholics From Indonesia

"I am here to give comfort and encourage the population that suffers. The local Church is providing every possible humanitarian aid for the displaced persons."

"Who holds political and institutional office is called to serve the people and to promote the common good, beyond his personal religious beliefs or ethnicity. And citizens have to choose leaders for their skills, expertise, professionalism, not for religion."

"In Indonesia, dialogue is crucial, it is an integral part of everyday life. Our program is to promote a dialogue on three levels: with religions, cultures and society. This results in three key words: respectively, inculturation, fraternity and development. There are many experiences in which this "triple dialogue" is fulfilled: for example, in solidarity with people affected by the eruption of the Merapi volcano, but also in meetings like those of today, inspired by the Spirit of Assisi. We are in communion with the Pope and the universal Church."

"The crisis Indonesia is currently experiencing has many faces. One could say that it is a combination of different crises: a moral crisis, a crisis regarding respect for the law and the rule of law; there is a crisis of political leadership that is very distant from the interests and aspirations of the people. These problems are not new, but in the last 25 years, after the fall of the Suharto regime, the Indonesian people would have wanted improvements on various levels: economic, political, and social."

"We can continue what the first Bishop of Timika, John Philip Saklil, has already begun. Our relations must be based on love, friendship, and human exchange. We are called to open doors for one another."

"The government demonstrated its weakness and appears to have given way to pressure from extremists. In our diocese and all over the country Christians and Muslims have campaigned together for the abolition of the death penalty. This campaign has nothing to do with religion. Every life is precious. Our campaign is to save all lives."

"Besides being the President of the United States, Obama is also a Nobel Peace Prize winner. His visit to a predominantly Muslim country is also a way to demonstrate his commitment to bring peace and affirm that Islam is not the enemy of the United States nor is the United States an enemy of Islam. Obama also carries the message that Islam can coexist and contribute to a pluralistic society, not only in our country - where many religious communities co-exist and different cultures - but also in other parts of the world. Obama's visit is an opportunity to reaffirm that in Islam there are positive values, while in recent years has prevailed at the international level, the idea of Islam as a religion inspired by violence."

"Called, rejected. Called, picked up, we get angry. The reporter's impression of us becomes increasingly negative. So in slang terms, don't ghost."

"Finally, there is a communication blockage, colleagues avoid, do not want to meet, so that the public impression, the reporter's impression of us becomes increasingly negative. So in slang, don't ghost."

"This is what colleagues must do. Because of the four strategies, the one that correlates to increasing public trust is procedural justice."

"The Catholic Church is concerned for the unity of the nation, and confirms its support to the Constitution and the principles of democracy. We must be strong and free of fear, in the face of truth and justice."

"Indonesian missionaries are characterised by their simplicity and readiness to work in remote places. Their experience of living together with other religions, especially with Muslims, is helpful for other local Churches."

""Man does not live by bread alone, but also by the Word of God." I want to put it another way: Man does not live only by the Word of God, but also by bread."

"It's better that we consolidate cooperation with nationalist forces to fight for national unity on the basis of integralistic insights. We should realize that within those national interests there lay our Catholic interests."

"He was a leader who gave priority to dialogue and sincere love. His presence caused a great change in Balinese society and peace for Hindus."

"He always proposed clear solutions."

"He was a quiet person, saying only as much as was needed. His thinking was clear and his talk not meaningless but substantive."

"Plurality is a certainty that no one can deny. God created this world with diversity. Denying plurality is the same as opposing God's will."

"Justice always assumes that an individual's rights are guaranteed. We cannot talk about justice without speaking about rights. Regarding peace, we must see it in correlation with justice. Peace is possible only if justice prevails. Peace can only be created with justice."

"Bishop Doctor Benyamin Bria, who was active in human and social activities, has built togetherness and tolerance regardless of religious, tribal and group differences. May we follow his example."

"There is no fear. Optimism sees the light of heaven as the beginning of eternal life. The pain is reduced because of the deep conviction and faith."

"Life in our countries is not easy. My diocese is in the Indonesian region of west Papua and daily problems include the need for more justice and peace frequently threatened by violence. However we have seen that local Churches in Africa and in America have the same difficulties."

"Dialogue is the key for the local churches in the vast nation of Indonesia, in order for them to live and carry out their pastoral and apostolic activities with confidence and security."

"Preserve this cultural wealth so that it will not be gradually eradicated by modern culture."

"The missionary spirit introduced by the missioners in this region must be maintained. This is the Catholic mission."

"Our local Church today is a missionary Church. We have over 500 priests and religious sent as missionaries to Indonesia and the world. We are a Church blessed by the Lord with many vocations to priestly and consecrated life. But the cradle of these vocations is the family: our Catholic families live faith with devotion and profoundness, they approach the Sacraments, they practice charity. This is the environment where the seed of God's call can sprout."

"I can't believe I've been appointed a bishop. This is a major responsibility for me."

"It is the time for the local Church to be self-reliant and help build the universal Church. Therefore, mission work is not only the responsibility of priests but also of the laity, so I call on all laypeople to always serve the Church."

"To the faithful of the Mentawai Islands, I say: this is a disaster that has devastated your lives, but do not be discouraged! Now is not the time to ask ourselves how and why, but we extend our heart and hands to God, with faith and prayer. Do not be afraid, but be ready to hope that the Lord and our brothers are close to you in your suffering."

"An experience I had already lived with joy as Director of the Pontifical Mission Societies in Indonesia before I was appointed bishop. That experience has proved to be a treasure now that I am a bishop, for the work of evangelisation."

"Catholics are taught to be inclusive instead of superior. That is why, like it or not, tolerance must be the chief characteristic of the church. I want to be friends with anyone. I won't promote inclusivism. Rather, I will visit people and sit with them for a cup of coffee. This is better than just attending formal meetings of the Interfaith Communication Forum."

"Parents should instill positive and important values into their children's minds so that families can be evangelizers. This is how Catholic families can be truly involved in spreading the spirit of Christianity."

"He is a figure who never stays silent and always tries to make breakthroughs in his work."

"The Catholic Church in Indonesia will not remain silent. Our care for all those who suffer is truly a concrete form of our faith. We have just celebrated Easter, proof of God's involvement, through Jesus, in human life."

"Priests are required to present God's blessing, as well as reinforce and support people's morals vis-à-vis the challenges and obstacles of their daily life. Priests have a duty to offer moral assistance, not only to our common friends, Catholics, but also to ordinary citizens, Indonesians."

"As for the inter-religious relationships, especially between Muslims and Christians, I am not worried. In fact, I am very confident."

"I had never thought for a moment that I might one day be a cardinal. As I was taught since my initial formation for the priesthood, in the Church no one should consider a personal career path."

"We must retain the positive values of our culture and use them to bring people to God. The habits of revenge and conflicts among tribes must be stopped. Love your neighbors and put your faith in Christ."

"Peace will come only if we truly love one another. We might have hurt others and the environment in the past, and we should repent in this new year."

"We should not see a Hansenite or a disabled person as a curse or burden. For us Christians, they are the grace and blessing of God, because they reflect the image of Christ."

"Reciprocal knowledge helps to eliminate prejudice and build peace. Being a Franciscan in this context means being authentic brothers to people of different opinion, religion, or race. Living fraternity can also help Indonesia as a country: a reality dispersed over its 13,000 islands."

"As their shepherd have a deep concern for the condition of my flock. Help us, save our souls."

"Being together in the Indonesian Youth Day in Manado, the young people come as water, they go back as wine to evangelize."

"Adulthood essentially means making the right choices based on true love."

"We have to communicate: we don't want to force, even though we have a right to establish a building, because what we want is a peaceful situation."

"During the festival we appreciate how big is God's gift to Asmat people. They can preserve their identity through their woodcarvings. Their carving is art that reflects fundamental beliefs passed down from generation to generation."

"Money and the desperate quest for it, deeply affect every aspect of human life, mostly on a daily basis, and people should be aware of the prevalence of this dangerous trend that has also taken root among Indonesian Catholics. Indonesians, even Catholics, are easily influenced by money, position and social status. And this leads people to believe in values that are not based on our moral or cultural attitudes. This moral decadence is a very serious problem that we must face daily."

"I wanted to encourage local people to love the environment and the best way to do so was to lead by example. I tried hard."

"We ask for prayers and support for our seminarians so that they can recover soon, and for the medical workers looking after them."

"Indonesians must grateful for what the founding fathers have inherited through Pancasila, which stresses inclusivity in a plural society. In Indonesia, religion is challenged to learn from local cultures and not to underestimate humanity"