ASIA/INDONESIA - Catholic Bishops issue message of encouragement: the chain of solidarity must carry on even after the spotlights are turned off

Friday, 7 January 2005

Jakarta(Fides) - In response to a message issued by the Indonesian Catholic Bishops’ Conference every Catholic diocese in the vast Indonesian archipelago of 17,000 islands has been mobilised to provide aid for the thousands involved in the tsunami tragedy which struck Sumatra. The message was signed by Cardinal Julius Darmaatmadja Archbishop of Jakarta who is President of the Bishops’ Conference.
Here are some excerpts from the long message: “The suffering touches our hearts. We feel that we have failed to maintain good relations with our neighbours which has resulted in so many violent conflicts. Despite the suffering we believe that God remains faithful to us. Without being instructed by anyone since news of the disaster was heard people have started to lend a helping hand. We feel that the nation is united in the same suffering”.
The Bishops call on Catholics “to stay united and not to surrender to despair”, and to continue collecting aid and funds for the victims. “We ask all Catholics to continue to give their attention to the people who are suffering even when such suffering no longer fills the media’s pages. For this we suggest a special monetary collection to support those handicapped for life by the disaster”.
The Bishops conclude: “we humbly muster the courage to convey this invitation to you all with prayers that Our Lord, the God of life makes us respect life more and more, both our own life and the life of our neighbours”.
(PA) (Agenzia Fides 7/1/2005 righe 25 parole 255)


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