Cardinal's voice

Cardinal's voice

From Kompas

Our nation toils to establish the welfare of our people. We
have to try to give substance to our independence and create this
welfare. Life is hard and development is no easy matter and it
takes a long time to accomplish these ideals. Fortunately our
founding fathers bequeathed us a tradition with which to face
these challenges.

Although we have Pancasila as the sole basis for society, we
often disagree with each other in terms of how Pancasila can be
best implemented. Yet our differences should not become a
stumbling block in the pursuit of our common ideals. Instead,
they should become a guide in our effort to improve our concepts.
It is here the 1945 Constitution has provided us with ways and
means to find solutions to common problems through musyawarah
(mutual consultations and deliberations).

What we all witnessed lately has caused us great concern.
Physical confrontation, inflicting injuries on each other, and
endangering each other's life; this is something to be deeply
concerned about. Blood and souls were wasted as if human life
need not be respected. It seems that our compassion has become
blunt. This has besmirched our image as a nation which honors the
ideal of brotherhood, and has ignited enmity in the absence of
the religious sentiment which should make us feel as one family
in Almighty God.

I am sure that none of us want to suffer prolonged grief, but
rather strive for the clean solution of problems, always speaking
the truth. For all these virtues to manifest themselves we need
modesty, honesty, heroism and a clear mind, and we should avoid
considering those who disagree with us as our enemies.

JULIUS KARDINAL DARMAATMADJA SJ

Jakarta