Beware of politicization of religion: Bishops

Beware of politicization of religion: Bishops

JAKARTA (JP): The Indonesian Bishops' Conference (KWI) ended
its annual meeting here yesterday, calling for religious
believers to be wary of interest groups using religion for their
own political purposes.

"Religious believers should not knowingly be used for purposes
incompatible with the essence of religion," KWI Secretary-General
M.D. Situmorang said in a statement.

He went on to say, "Never use religion or religious groups for
whatever purpose, which is not in accordance with the nobility of
the religion".

The conference addressed the recent religious riots in East
Java, and the controversy over East Timorese Bishop Carlos Filipe
Ximenes Belo's critical remarks on the military.

On the two issues, the conference stated, "Everything will be
better if the dignity of every human being is duly respected, if
law is properly enforced, and if there is goodwill to work for
the best of the nation".

A religious riot shook the East Java town of Situbondo and its
surrounding townships where two dozen churches were reduced to
ashes or damaged, and where some government buildings were
vandalized.

The violence reportedly involved people unhappy with a five-
year jail term, demanded by a prosecutor at a local court, for a
Moslem standing trial for allegedly insulting a respected Moslem
leader.

The government, the National Commission on Human Rights and
the church have conducted separate investigations into the
incident.

The just-ended conference was shadowed by public
demonstrations and criticisms of Bishop Belo, who attended the
meeting, for his critical remarks in an interview with German
magazine Der Spiegel.

Concluding, the meeting called on Christians to promote
religious tolerance and work together with those from other
religions. (pan)