The Indonesian Bishops call not only for tolerance but authentic fraternity

"A Church in communion with God and proclaims the Good News; a Church that goes forth to meet people, to give love and happiness, peace and justice, unity and brotherhood; a Church which is sensitive to the breath of the Holy Spirit, to strengthen faith for a better future": was  the idea of the Church outlined by the Indonesian  Bishops who  started their annual meeting of study and research from 3 to November 13. The Bishops listened to a report of a Muslim scholar on the subject of pluralism and of a Franciscan on hopes for the mission of the Church today, led by Pope Francis.  During the assembly some religious women shared their experiences at the service of AIDS patients and victims of sexual abuse, while members of the Community of Sant'Egidio told the Bishops the work carried out concerning street children.

Kamilus Pantus, Executive Secretary of the Episcopal Commission for Social Communications said,  "In the pluralistic society of Indonesia, to profess the Catholic faith means to do it in coexistence with neighbors of different religious and ethnic groups",  noting that the required path of interreligious dialogue expresses "an attitude of openness in truth and love", as the Apostolic Exhortation Evangelii Gaudium (n. 250) says.

At the conclusion of the meeting the Bishops agree that in order to build true brotherhood, not just an attitude of tolerance is needed, but we must go further, promoting an attitude of love and mutual respect. The final message of the Assembly, entitled "To proclaim the joy of the Gospel", was signed by the President of the Indonesian Bishops Conference, Archbishop Ignatius Suharyo, Jakarta, and the Secretary General, Archbishop Johannes Pujasumarta, Semarang.
 

The message said that "God the Father calls the faithful to be the channel of love towards others, especially for the young, the weak, the poor, the marginalized, the forgotten, and for the victims of any unjust political, economic, cultural and communicative system". In this context, "every Christian in Indonesia" is asked to proclaim the joy of the gospel, presenting the values of the Gospel as leaven in society", reads the text. So that the presence of the Church becomes "joy for its people and for society", the Bishops invite to continue the path and commitment to seek "new ways of being Church in Indonesia".

The Bishops' Conference of Indonesia (BCI)  is the episcopal conference of the Catholic bishops of Indonesia. It was constituted in November 1955, in Surabaya with the name MAWI. It  is a part of the Federation of Asian Bishops' Conferences.