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