ASIA/INDONESIA - The Bishops: "Attacks against coexistence and pluralism"

Jakarta (Agenzia Fides) - "The Indonesian Bishops are shocked, they expressed strong disappointment and solidarity towards the families of the victims and wounded. It is traumatic to know that a whole family of suicide bombers carried out the attacks: what do we instill in the minds of children? Extremism? This is the most profound question that these attacks bring with them": says to Agenzia Fides Fr. Siprianus Hormat, Executive Secretary of the Bishops' Conference of Indonesia, reporting the thought of the Indonesian Catholic episcopate after the three attacks that struck yesterday, May 13, a Catholic church and two Protestant churches in Surabaya, city on the island of Java.
Fr. Hormat tells Fides: "The main objective were police posts but then the churches were attacked. Coexistence and pluralism, the primary asset of Indonesian society, are in danger and we seek visibility all over the world. The Indonesian Bishops are involved in interreligious dialogue, and in these hours common initiatives are being carried out, between Christian and Muslim leaders, to stigmatize violence, hatred, and terrorism. Society must remain united and reject these evil forces".
The Secretary concludes: "Today we live in tension and fear, but the Catholic Church in Indonesia has full confidence in the President, in public institutions, in the whole society, in order to stop extremism, which wants to poison society. In Surabaya, Masses were canceled last night, but Christians are not intimidated: we believe and work for dialogue and fraternity towards all. Indonesia will not let the forces of evil destroy coexistence and democracy". (PA) (Agenzia Fides, 14/5/2018)

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terrorism

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local churches

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political islam

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violence

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christianity

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episcopal conferences

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dialogue

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human rights

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religious minorities

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