Indonesian bishops holding their annual general body meeting in North Jakarta are focusing their attention on how to help combat corruption as a social and moral evil that plagues the nation and to which religious communities can also contribute greatly. Thirty-six bishops, as also retired Archbishop of Jakarta Card. Julius Darmaatmadja, Apostolic Nuncio Arch. Guido Filipazzi, the director of the Ministry of Religious Affairs Eusabius Binsasi, and representatives of the Communion of Christian Churches in Indonesia, are participating in the Oct. 31 – Nov 10 meeting.
Ignatius Jonan, Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources, who has led other ministries as well, is the only Catholic minister in the Indonesian government addressing the bishops’ annual assembly. According to Fr. Benny Susetyo, the secretary of the famous Setara Institute for Democracy and Peace", Indonesian President Joko Widodo chose Jonan because of his moral integrity, discipline, honesty and transparency to head a key ministry where corruption can easily seep in given the tenders involved. Indonesia’s bishops also listened to the other Catholic, Alexander Marwata, one of the five leaders of the government’s Commission for the eradication of corruption. Members of the NGO Indonesia Corruption Watch (ICW) and the Forum "EHEM", anti-corruption initiative launched by the Jesuits in the Philippines, were also 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 at the end of the assembly. (Source: Fides)
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