ASIA/INDONESIA - Fight against corruption: the Catholic minister of the Indonesian government intervenes during the Assembly of Bishops

Friday, 4 November 2016 corruption politics civil society bishops religious minorities

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Jakarta (Agenzia Fides) - The focus is on corruption as a social and moral evil that plagues the nation and that also religious communities, for their weight on human consciousness, help to counter: this is the central theme of the Indonesian Bishops’ Assembly, being held in North Jakarta. The 11-day meeting, which began on October 31 with the participation of 36 Bishops, was also attended by Cardinal Julius Darmaatmadja, the Apostolic Nuncio Guido Filipazzi, as well as personalities such as the director of the Ministry of Religious Affairs Eusabius Binsasi, and representatives of the Communion of Christian Churches in Indonesia.
As Fides learns, since the subject has strong implications in political and social life, the Bishops invited the only Catholic minister present in the Indonesian government led by President Joko Widodo to speak at the 2016 annual assembly – which began with the singing of the national anthem. We are talking about Ignatius Jonan, currently Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources, former Director of the national railway company and former Minister of Transport. The choice of Jonan is motivated "by his moral integrity, discipline, honesty and transparency. Widodo needed a credible man with a clear vision, able to overcome corruption in the bureaucracy", said to Fides Fr. Benny Susetyo, currently National Secretary of the famous "Setara Institute for Democracy and Peace".
The Bishops also listened to the other Catholic, Alexander Marwata, one of the five leaders of the Commission for the eradication of corruption. "Corruption stems from greed. Greed is dominant", he said. Also members of the NGO Indonesia Corruption Watch (ICW) and the Forum "EHEM", anti-corruption initiative launched by the Jesuits in the Philippines, were called to testify.
The Bishops will debate on the input received, reflecting on the theme of corruption in Indonesian society but also in the Church, and then draw conclusions and a final document of the assembly, which will close on 10 November. (PCP- PA) (Agenzia Fides 04/11/2016)