Rome (Fides Service) - After the recent terrorist attacks in the far east, Bali and Philippines, Fides Service spoke about the present world situation of rising tension with Bishop Basilio do Nascimento Apostolic Administrator of Baucau diocese, East Timor, recently in Rome with Bishop Carlos Belo on ad limina visit.
The first point raised by Bishop Do Nascimento was the spreading threat of religious fundamentalism in the Far East. "The threat of Muslim fundamentalism is real. We are not sure of its objective: some groups admit that their aim is to spread Islam in state structures, as in many countries in this part of the world. But this does not justify violence. Terrorism can strike anywhere in the world and it takes root more easily where governments are shaky and corruption triumphs. As the Holy Father has so often said, to eliminate terrorism it is necessary to improve living conditions, eliminate poverty, improve infrastructures so that people are less inclined to be exploited. It should be recalled that in this part of the world the social context is highly sensitive. Political organisation is lacking and democracy is weak, people have little say in running the countries. Security forces and infrastructures are not yet well organised and poverty is a harsh reality. In a situation like this people will listen to anybody claiming to bring material and spiritual wellbeing. The whole area of South East Asia is exposed to manipulation by religious and political groups parading promises of wealth".
The second point raised by the Bishop was East Timor, a fledgling nation, almost totally Christian which has the right to exist. "A demonstrative attack by terrorism or fundamentalism on Timor as a symbol, is not to be excluded: Bali, as a cradle of Indonesia, Timor as a cradle of Catholicism. East Timorese people are concerned at the moment with hunger: day to day survival is the main problem, but they are aware that terrorism is a threat and particularly when the security forces of our new country still leave much to be desired. From the point of view of Catholicism, East Timor has the highest percentage of Catholics in Asia. The many missionaries who came to Timor planted a tiny seed which took root and flourished. Today East Timor can play a major role for the presence and spread of the Catholic Church in this part of the world besides making an important contribution to promoting dialogue, harmony and solidarity. From the social-political point of view, East Timor is still weak after secession from Indonesia, we lack the human resources to reinforce infrastructures, government and administration: we still depend on the support of international bodies".
Bishop Do Nascimento described the Church in East Timor as a martyr Church. "I think that Tertullian's saying <the Blood of martyrs is the seed of Christians> is very true for Timor: we see this in the growing numbers of vocations and the high percentage of practising Catholics more than 97%. From a point of view of the faith of the people the atmosphere is happy. We are proud of our Catholic priests, seminarians, Sisters, Brothers, fathers and mothers who gave their lives for faith and country. They are a gift to the Church in Timor and to the universal Church. Today many others continue to bear heroic witness to faith in Jesus Christ. We hope that one day East Timor will have its own saints". (PA) (Fides Service 7/11/2002)