Catholic church concerned over spread of lethal AIDS

JAKARTA (JP): The Bishops Conference of Indonesia (KWI) has reelected Cardinal Julius Darmaatmadja as its chief in this week's congress, in which the Catholic leaders expressed their concern over the spread of AIDS and drug abuse.

Darmaatmadja, whom Pope John Paul II named cardinal this month, was reelected chief of the eight-member KWI presidium a third time for another three years in a 11-day congress that ended here on Thursday.

He is supported by two deputies, Darius Nggawa and Josephus Theodorus Suwatan, respectively Bishops of Larantuka, East Nusa Tenggara and Manado, North Sulawesi.

Martinus Dogma Situmorang, bishop of Padang, West Sumatra, was elected secretary general and G.K. Pareira, bishop of Weetebula, treasurer.

At the end of the congress, the church leaders issued a four- point statement expressing concern about the widespread use of illegal drugs and the fast spreading Human Immuno-deficiency Virus (HIV) that causes the deadly AIDS.

"Empathy and moral responsibility has prompted the bishops to seek as much information as possible on the soaring medical costs, drug abuse and spread of HIV/AIDS," the statement said.

Over the past few years, the fast spreading incurable AIDS has become a matter of concern for the government and public alike in Indonesia.

Statistics

According to official statistics, up to July this year, 175 Indonesians tested positive for HIV while 60 others have full- blown AIDS.

Coordinating Minister for People's Welfare Azwar Anas has acknowledged that the actual figures could be 200 times as high. The government has formed a commission to curb AIDS.

He predicts that by the year 2000 Indonesia will have to spend some US$81 million in medical costs for a projected 5,000 AIDS patients.

KWI called on concerted efforts involving government officials and the public to curb the spread of AIDS.

The statement said that widespread entertainment places which have become part of the modern lifestyle had contribution to people seeking partners outside of the marriage bond.

Parent-child communications are declining as more and more parents spend their days working and children at school, it said.

"Various social and physical diseases are threatening each one of us," it said. " Health care costs are becoming too expensive for most of the people." (pan)