Activists mark the death of Mother Teresa

SURABAYA (JP): About 60 government critics and activists from different religious groups gathered here over the weekend to hold an assortment of services in commemoration of the 40th day since Mother Teresa died.

The organizers of the "Sermon of Love and Prayer of Humanity" were activists from the local branch of the Indonesian Islamic Students' Movement (PMII) -- five of whom were women wearing veils.

The invitees were members and leaders from the Moslem, Protestant, Catholic and Confucian (which is not recognized as a religion here) communities.

Friday night's event also attracted activists from the Association of Indonesian Catholic Students (PMKRI), Indonesian Christian University Students' Movement (GMKI), as well as the banned Students' Solidarity for Democracy in Indonesia (SMID) group, and the unrecognized Indonesian Democratic Union Party (PUDI) and Alliance of Independent Journalists (AJI).

Religious leaders delivered a sermon and then led a pray according to their individual teachings, but it was followed by all those present at the gathering.

"We held the meeting because we realize how Mother Teresa's struggle has moved the conscience of all people in the world... This is not something that other people, including those of other religions, suggested. This is entirely our idea," the chief organizer, Imam Nahrowi, said.

The alumnae of the Sunan Ampel Institute of Islamic Studies conceded that the idea might cause controversy among Moslems.

"How could Moslems pray for those who are not Moslems?" he said. "We are not looking at this from a theological point of view. To us, this is just an ordinary problem of humanity."

"Everybody knows that Mother Teresa had given a lot to the struggle for humanity and love. What's so wrong if we also want to pray for her soul?"

Sumarkhan Fanniddin from the local office of Nahdlatul Ulama agreed.

"From the perspective of Islamic law, this gathering should be questioned. But I think that from the perspective of humanity, there's nothing wrong with it," Fanniddin, who represented Moslems during his sermon at the gathering, said.

Bingky Irawan, who leads the Boen Bio Confucius Community, admitted to feeling apprehensive about the invitation to the gathering.

"What if we're later accused of various things because we joined the gathering," he said.

Indonesia recognizes five religions, with Islam constituting the majority, or 87 percent, of the nation's population of 200 million. The others religions are Catholicism, Protestantism, Buddhism and Hinduism.

There are rules on relationships between followers of different religions in Indonesia. For instance, interreligious marriage is not permitted.

Nahrowi said that what was most important was for people to understand Mother Teresa's activities as a call for nonviolence and respect for religious pluralism.

"(Nonviolence and respect for pluralism) are certainly very necessary, especially lately when social upheavals have erupted in various parts of the country," he said.

Catholic priest A. Kurdo Irianto underlined Nahrowi's statement. He also stressed that the most important problems that Mother Teresa dealt with were poverty and religious pluralism, characteristics of Asian nations.

"These two problems are also facing us as we fight for democracy and justice. Egalitarianism, solidarity and unity were the principles of Mother Teresa's struggle," he said.

Priest Shimon Vilantroipa said in his sermon that although Mother Teresa was a Catholic, her endeavor had inspired "a struggle for the attainment of basic rights based on true humanity" for people of all backgrounds.

Fanniddin said Islam teaches its followers to love and help one another.

"From the perspective of Islam, religious pluralism is a fact that should be accepted. Respect toward other religions would give birth to love for others," he said.

The 87-year-old Roman Catholic nun, known as the "Saint of the Gutters", died earlier last month in Calcutta of cardiac arrest. The leader of the Missionaries of Charity, she worked for nearly 50 years for the poor, destitute and dying. (nur)