Indonesian Cardinal: Respecting food as a form of respect for human dignity

Cardinal Ignatius Suharyo, the President of the Indonesian Bishops' Conference (KWI) and the Archbishop of Jakarta (KAJ), urges the country’s Catholics to respect human dignity by assisting vulnerable communities impacted by the global food crisis.

This was the message delivered by Cardinal Suharyo in his pastoral letter on World Food Day, which will be celebrated on October 16.

Referring to the theme of World Food Day, "Leave No One Behind," the Cardinal said many people could not catch up and enjoy the fruits of development and advancement while being encouraged to respect their dignity.

"Our brothers, frequently referred to as the weak, impoverished, marginalized, and disabled, are becoming increasingly vulnerable due to the global crisis, economic troubles, and other social burdens created by the COVID-19 epidemic," the cardinal said, adding that respect for human dignity motivates individuals to adhere to the church's social teachings.

"The right to food is one of the fundamental human rights," said Cardinal Suharyo, Archbishop of Jakarta.

In recognition of this basis, he urges the faithful to contemplate while posing the following question:

"What can we do to ensure that our brothers and sisters left behind have access to food? Can we discover it and pave a way so that our brothers and sisters who have been left behind have an equal chance at obtaining the fundamental right to food?"

Therefore, the prelate encourages the faithful to demonstrate God's mercy by loving, caring and continually testifying. This concern is demonstrated via several actions, including appreciating food by eating healthily and avoiding food waste.

"This is an act of faith since food is God's gift to everyone. Wasting food and throwing it away is disrespecting our less fortunate brothers and sisters' basic right to food," the cardinal emphasized.

The cardinal added that believers in parishes, neighborhoods, religious communities, and catechetical groups can organize solidarity initiatives to distribute nutritious meals to our less fortunate brothers and sisters.

He concluded the pastoral letter by requesting the faithful to collaborate by taking steps to resolve the global food issue.

"Hopefully, we will continue to walk together with greater love, care, and witness, and we will not tire of seeking new routes to help undernourished people," he said. -Kasmir Nema