A top government official, Supaman, leader of the general directorate for the orientation of the Catholic community, praised the Catholic Church for its work in so many different fields in Indonesia.  He said:

“The Church plays an extremely significant role in the development of the nation.”

He noted that “its achievements in the fields of education, health care, and social services are undeniable.” He also added that the Catholic Church is active in many other fields and helps the whole of Indonesia’s population, regardless of their religious background. Supaman’s directorate provides government services to Catholic citizens of Indonesia and is one of the six directorates dedicated to all the state-recognized religions.

Supaman also spoke highly of the Catholic Church’s role in inter-religious dialogue and proved to be a valuable partner in the joint effort of the government and other religious communities to counter radicalized groups.

“I must say that the Catholic Church often becomes a bridge to create understanding and cooperation between communities through various dialogue forums and social activities involving various religious groups.”

He also praised the efforts and contribution of the Catholic Church to the education sector in Indonesia. Saying that the government “highly values the commitment” of the Catholic Church to the field of education and there are numerous educational facilities run together in close cooperation of the state and the Catholic bishops of Indonesia. There are 62 primary schools with 1,460 students, 46 schools in secondary education with 5,809 students, and 24 higher education institutions with 6,009 students, run by the Catholic community in Indonesia. The Catholic-run education institutions also employ more than 1,200 teachers and educators and often provide education in the most remote areas of the country.

Indonesia has a population of more than 275 million, of which Catholics make up about 3%. According to the latest government census, there are 8.5 million Catholics, but the data from the Indonesian Catholic Bishops’ Conference says otherwise and states that there are 10.5 million Catholics in the country.

Source: UCA News

Photo: Wikimedia