E. Timor bishops support all-faith talks

E. Timor bishops support all-faith talks

JAKARTA (JP): The two East Timor bishops have thrown their
weight behind a plan to have a meeting between people of all
faiths in the area, to increase understanding and promote
tolerance.

Blessing the dialog initiated by East Timor youth were Dili
Bishop Mgr Carlos Filipe Ximenes Belo and Baucau Bishop Mgr
Basilio do Nascimento.

"They support the planned meeting because it will help improve
religious tolerance in the East Timor province," said organizing
committee member Franqueleno da Costa Freitas, after meeting
Bishop Belo at the diocese office in Dili Saturday.

The dialog will be the first of its kind to be organized in
the former Portuguese colony that was integrated into Indonesia
in 1976.

East Timor is predominantly Roman Catholic. Occasional
religious incidents involving locals and migrants of other
religious faiths have been reported over the past few years.

"Bishop Belo gave his blessing, as he sees the activity as a
positive thing," Franqueleno said, as quoted by Antara.

The meeting is scheduled to take place July 8, 1997, in the
auditorium of the governor's office.

The dialog will feature Bishop Basilio, Head of East Timor
Moslem Ulemas Council Abdullah M Sagran and Hindu and Buddhist
representatives.

Bishop Belo, who is unable to attend, will be replaced by Dili
diocese vicar general Mgr Jose Antonio da Costa, according to the
organizing committee.

Franquelino, who chairs the Pioneering Youths in the
Development of East Timor, shares Belo's views, that there are
still many irresponsible individuals who use religion as an
excuse to justify their personal interests.

Paulo Pereira dos Santos, chairman of the Dili diocese youth
club, said religious issues in East Timor, until now, were still
"kept under wraps" for the sake of political interest. (40)