ASIA/INDONESIA - After the bomb in a church, interfaith prayer in Solo to say "No" to violence

Semarang (Agenzia Fides) - There is concern and confusion among Christians of the diocese of Semarang (Central Java) after the suicide attack which occurred yesterday, on Sunday, Sept. 25, in a Protestant Christian church in the city of Solo. A terrorist suicide bomber blew himself up at the entrance of the Tenth Bethel Gospel Church, injuring 22worshipers.
As local sources told Fides, Solo (also known as Surakarta) is a town with a strong and visible presence of the Christian community with many different Protestant denominations and five Catholic churches. The Archbishop of Semarang, Mgr. Johannes Pujasumarta, at the time of the explosion was in Solo for pastoral reasons. Upon hearing the news, he went there. He expressed solidarity with the victims, condemned the terrorist act and terrorism that " scorns human life" and encouraged local believers to "remain steadfast in faith". The Archbishop then went to the capital Jakarta, for a special Episcopal Conference meeting, in preparation for the ad Limina visit of the Indonesian Bishops, who are about to leave for Rome.
As reported to Fides, the Bishops, in the aftermath of the terrible attack, wanted to convene an emergency summit: a joint statement, signed by "Indonesian Communion of Churches", by the Indonesian Episcopal Conference and the Islamic Youth Movement "Anshor" , which expresses grave concern over the incident and launched an appeal to the faithful so that they do not respond to provocations and violence, since "the language of violence does not solve any problem". Religious leaders ask the police to act professionally, reiterating the support to the ideology of "Pancasila", the "five principles" underlying the pluralism of the Indonesian nation.
Meanwhile, the Secretary of the Commission for Interreligious Dialogue of the Episcopal Conference, Fr. Benny Susetyo, announced the organization of an interfaith prayer service for peace to be held in the city of Solo, saying that "religions should be a source of spiritual inspiration to strengthen national unity". Nusron Wahid, president of the Muslim youth movement "Anshor", underlined that "it is urgent to continue to educate young people to authentic religious teachings", refusing "terrorism in the name of religion". (PA) (Agenzia Fides 26/09/2011)