by Mathias Hariyadi

Priests and lay people get involved in campaigns designed to moralise public life. The Bishops' Conference provides guidelines for volunteers. We want to build a "stronger and better generation of young people," manager says. Doctor confirms widespread corruption in the public sector.

Jakarta (AsiaNews) - Christmas has provided a group of Indonesian professionals, teachers, clergymen and nuns an opportunity to re-launch an anti-corruption campaign promoted by the Catholic Bishops' Conference of Indonesia (KWI). Corruption remains one of the oldest and most rooted problems the country faces.

The Church itself and its clergy have not been spared. Cases of graft, abuse and embezzlement have been recorded within the Church, going back to the early post-colonial years. Church leaders have not really been able to solve the problem. Now a group of volunteers led by Fr Yr Edy Purwanto and Royani Lim have decided to do something about it just before the festivity.

Dr Prastowo, who works in a public hospital, has confirmed that corruption in government institutions is widespread, including kickbacks and false accounting.

Wisnu Rosariastoko, head of a private company, decided to do join the bishops' initiative for the greater good of the Church and society, moved by his "heart" and a desire "to help a younger generation grow up better and stronger."

For her part, Prof Wiwiek Widiarti said, "I received a lot from God and it is now time to share with others what is good and ideal in an ethical life".

Fr Fx Adisusanto SJ, a KWI expert in communications and media, said he joined "without hesitation" a project "that promotes what is good."

For women's rights activist Justina Rostiawati, corruption is connected to negative acts in families, including violence.

Some time ago, bishops, priests and ordinary believers launched a campaign against bad government and immoral business practices.

This initiative adopted the approaches already put to the test by EheM!, the Filipino Observatory on Corruption, founded by the Jesuits and active across Southeast Asia.

Two different seminars have been held in Indonesia in the recent past, one in November 2012, in the Archdiocese of Jakarta, and the other in the Diocese of Purwokerto, earlier this month.

Projects, seminars and campaigns are based on the voluntary contribution of participants and sponsors.

 

• indonesia
• christmas
• corruption
• church