Indonesian bishop: Religious inclusion is essential

An Indonesian bishop reiterated the importance of religious inclusion without sacrificing one’s identity.

It is essential for religious life to include everyone without giving up a religious identity, said Bishop Silvester Tung Kiem San of Denpasar (Bali), Indonesia.

He was speaking at a national conference held by the Indonesian Catholic Scholars Association (ISKA) about religious inclusion without sacrificing one's identity. 

ISKA is organizing a National Conference (Munas) in Bali from May 26 to 29.

In his speech, Bishop San highlighted how important it is to talk about human dignity as the crown of God's creation and a reflection of God.

He said, "It is essential to continue preaching to live a religious life that is inclusive without losing its identity," as shown in a video posted on ISKA's Facebook page. 

“We need more and more people who care about each other and are committed to building real human brotherhood based on respect for human dignity,” he said.

The Bishop agrees that people disregard the essence of creation theology in everyday life, which holds that all people are equal before God.

"Humans tend to establish distinctions and divide one another," the Bishop continued.

Bishop San said, "Problems like intolerance, radicalism, slander, insults, hate speech, and character assassination damage the dignity of people made in God's image." 

He stated that these issues were the result of ambition and worldly concerns. 

So, "ISKA must change the way the world looks by showing true brotherly love that puts respect for the value of human equality and dignity first,” the bishop added.

ISKA's president, Hargo Mandirahardjo, said that the implementation of Munas, which happened at the same time as the organization's 64th anniversary, showed the core vision of a respectable Catholic organization that kept humanism and national and Indonesian values.

He also said that ISKA thinks it is important for a multicultural country like Indonesia to have a shared sense of human dignity as the core of human life, both spiritually and socially, before caring about national values.

It is anticipated that the 2022 National Deliberation, with the theme "Upholding Humanity and Equality," would inspire and motivate ISKA members in their movements and service to the Church, community, nation, and state, he stated.

ISKA is a group of Indonesian Catholic scholars. It is affiliated with Pax Romana of the International Catholic Movement for Intellectual and Cultural Affairs (ICMICA), which has representatives at the United Nations.

ISKA started in 1958 as the Association of Indonesian Catholic Scholars and Intellectuals. Catholic and non-Catholic scholars who agree with Catholic ideals may join the organization. - Kasmir Nema