Indonesian clergy face challenges of relevance

Pope Francis’ historic visit to Jakarta from September 3 to 6, 2024, marked a pivotal moment for Indonesia’s Catholic Church.

Jan 10, 2025

Indonesian bishops with Pope Francis at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Assumption in Jakarta, Indonesia. (CNS photo/Vatican Media)


JAKARTA: Pope Francis’ historic visit to Jakarta from September 3 to 6, 2024, marked a pivotal moment for Indonesia’s Catholic Church. With Catholics constituting just three per cent of the country’s 275 million population, the visit — over three decades after St John Paul II’s in 1989 — was a rare and cherished occasion. Under the theme Faith, Brotherhood, and Mercy, the visit highlighted solidarity with the marginalised in the predominantly Muslim nation.

The Indonesian Bishops’ Conference emphasised the papal visit’s call for respect for human dignity, dialogue, and peaceful problem-solving. However, post-visit, the Church faced challenges in translating this vision into action.

Before Pope Francis’ visit, Catholic leaders were criticised for their silence on socio-ecological issues affecting remote communities. Discontent grew among marginalised groups and younger Catholics who felt neglected. Scandals, such as a June incident involving a priest from Flores caught in a moral failing, further eroded trust. Calls for reform were loud, but changes in hierarchical attitudes remained elusive.

Government policies promoting rapid investment in natural resource sectors under President Joko Widodo and successor Prabowo Subianto heightened tensions. National strategic projects often bypassed regulations, causing land disputes and ecological damage. The Catholic hierarchy was criticised for its muted or supportive stance toward such policies, perceived as neglecting the plight of the poor.

For example, in Flores, a geothermal project faced resistance due to adverse impacts on local communities. Protests in Poco Leok escalated into violence, yet the Ruteng Diocese remained silent, prompting questions about the Church’s allegiance. Similar resistance arose in Papua, where Archbishop Petrus Canisius Mandagi supported a contentious rice field project, drawing backlash from his congregation.

In response, grassroots movements, including indigenous priests and laity, rallied against perceived clerical indifference. Prayer events, such as the Rosary Marathon and Way of the Cross, became symbolic acts of resistance. Catholics increasingly criticized clergy, empowered by digital platforms that facilitated open dialogue and accountability.

An incident involving Bishop Paskalis Bruno Syukur of Bogor declining a cardinal’s red hat exemplified the shifting dynamics. Social media speculation underscored growing demands for transparency and relevance from Church leaders.

The events of 2024 reveal a shifting paradigm within Indonesia’s Catholic Church. Once seen as a compliant community, Catholics now openly demand accountability from their leaders. If the Church fails to address the concerns of marginalised communities with compassion and action, it risks losing its relevance, even as grassroots faith remains its cornerstone. --ucanews.com

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