Erwida Maulia, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
Communications and Information Technology Minister Tifatul Sembiring has spent most of the past two days fending off an onslaught of Twitter attacks after he compared a sex tape controversy to the theological debate between Christians and Muslims about the death of Jesus Christ.
He said Thursday during a breakfast meeting at his office that the public debate over the sex tapes featuring people resembling singer Nazril “Ariel” Irham, TV presenter Luna Maya and celebrity Cut Tari was like the dispute between Muslims, who believe that Jesus Christ was not crucified but rather that someone resembling him was, and Christians, who believe that Jesus Christ was crucified.
The celebrities have claimed the persons in the sex videos are not them.
Tifatul said that confirming the identity of the persons in the tapes was very important to avoid adverse impacts in the future like those emerging from the different views of Muslims and Christians. He did not elaborate on the impacts of the theological discord between the world’s two largest religions.
One Twitter message directed at the minister from the account “@Williamalwijaya” asked: “What is the relationship between Ariel and the Catholic followers of God? Were you drunk when you said that?”.
Tifatul tweeted back, “You had better not quote people’s words partially, that makes you look like a drunk person”.
Tifatul also wrote to another of his Twitter criticizers, “@artjie”, “I’m explaining the point of view of Muslims on Prophet Isa and of the Christians on Jesus Christ, you can ask theologists about this.”
He also tried to clarify the context of his statements to “@nafaurbach” by saying, “Muslims believe that Prophet Isa wasn’t crucified, that it was someone ‘resembling’ him, while Christians believe that Jesus Christ was crucified”.
A Catholic priest from the Indonesian Bishops Council, Father Beni Susetyo, said that as a public official, Tifatul Sembiring should not compare a pornography scandal to the crucifixion of Jesus Christ, because it could hurt the feelings of believers. “There is no connection between pornography and the crucifixion of Jesus Christ at all,” he told The Jakarta Post.
He criticized the minister for showing a lack of appreciation for beliefs other than his own in such a diverse country as Indonesia.
This is the second time that Tifatul has sparked a controversy on Twitter. In April, he tweeted a quote from Nazi leader Adolf Hitler. He wrote, “The union between two children, when both of them complete each other, this is magic — Adolf Hitler”.
This posting drew the ire of many members of the public, who complained the minister had shown a lack of respect for the millions of people killed in the genocide perpetrated under Nazi leadership during World War II.
23 Juni 2010
Work with Jesus to save all, Cardinal tells priests
By Konradus Epa, Jakarta
Priests from Jakarta archdiocese during a Mass to conclude the Year for Priests
Priests must be loyal co-workers of Jesus and his instruments to save all, Indonesian Cardinal Julius Darmaatmadja told Jakarta clerics in a homily concluding the Year for Priests in the archdiocese.
“Be faithful to individual prayers, put away personal interests, and make sure that every Catholic is served,” Cardinal Darmaatmadja told 100 clergy and 300 nuns and laypeople attending the June 14 Mass at the Assumption of the Virgin Cathedral in Central Jakarta.
“Your main task as priests is to be loyal co-workers of Jesus and his instruments so as to save all people,” the prelate said.
“If a priest faces problems, other priests must support him,” he added. “Showing true brotherhood will inspire our people.”
The cardinal also called on priests, nuns and laypeople in the archdiocese to focus their efforts on a renewed mission in society.
After the Mass, Jesuit Father Maximianus Sriyanto from St. Mary’s Church in Tangerang, Banten province, told ucanews.com that priests must also support laypeople in mingling with people of other faith.
“Priests play important role in encouraging laypeople to dialogue with other religious followers,” Father Sriyanto said.
Cardinal Darmaatmadja also insisted on dialogue in a pastoral letter read at Sunday Masses on June 14.
He encouraged priests to improve basic ecclesial communities as the best locus for interreligious dialogue.
Jakarta archdiocese now has about 250 priests serving 461,455 Catholics.
Priests from Jakarta archdiocese during a Mass to conclude the Year for Priests
Priests must be loyal co-workers of Jesus and his instruments to save all, Indonesian Cardinal Julius Darmaatmadja told Jakarta clerics in a homily concluding the Year for Priests in the archdiocese.
“Be faithful to individual prayers, put away personal interests, and make sure that every Catholic is served,” Cardinal Darmaatmadja told 100 clergy and 300 nuns and laypeople attending the June 14 Mass at the Assumption of the Virgin Cathedral in Central Jakarta.
“Your main task as priests is to be loyal co-workers of Jesus and his instruments so as to save all people,” the prelate said.
“If a priest faces problems, other priests must support him,” he added. “Showing true brotherhood will inspire our people.”
The cardinal also called on priests, nuns and laypeople in the archdiocese to focus their efforts on a renewed mission in society.
After the Mass, Jesuit Father Maximianus Sriyanto from St. Mary’s Church in Tangerang, Banten province, told ucanews.com that priests must also support laypeople in mingling with people of other faith.
“Priests play important role in encouraging laypeople to dialogue with other religious followers,” Father Sriyanto said.
Cardinal Darmaatmadja also insisted on dialogue in a pastoral letter read at Sunday Masses on June 14.
He encouraged priests to improve basic ecclesial communities as the best locus for interreligious dialogue.
Jakarta archdiocese now has about 250 priests serving 461,455 Catholics.
Tribal Mass ‘preserves Church’s cultural wealth’
By Konradus Epa, Bekasi
Women in traditional costume perform a traditional tortor dance during the Mass
The Church needs to preserve cultural practices especially when these are in line with Gospel values, said an Indonesian prelate during a special Mass for Batak people.
Batak culture emphasizes fellowship and mutual help. “This is in line with Catholic teaching,” said retired Archbishop Alfred Gonti Pius Datubara of Medan, North Sumatra during the June 13 Mass in Bekasi, West Java.
More than 1,000 Catholics, mostly tribal Batak, attended the inculturated Mass which included traditional tortor dance and gondang music performed by some 20 people in traditional costume.
Batak songs livened up the three-hour celebration.
“The tortor dance is a dance that welcomes all people without discrimination,” said Archbishop Datubara. Such cultural practices are also the “glue” that helps bind the community together.
“We must make this cultural richness a contribution to the Church in order to worship God,” he said.
The Church also “needs to preserve this cultural wealth so that it will not be gradually eradicated by modern culture,” the prelate added.
Batak people believe that gondang music is a gift from God while the tortor dance invokes blessings from God.
Holding fast to one’s culture is especially important nowadays in a rapidly changing society, says Cosmas Batubara, a politician.
As more people embrace materialism, an inculturated Mass could help remind people of what is positive in their own culture, said the Catholic layman.
Batak culture values bonds of kinship and mutual help, he said.
“People living in big cities need to be reminded of cultural values which are in line with biblical values so that they can make these a foundation for their daily lives,” said Divine Word Father Yoseph Jaga Dawan from St. Michael Church in Kranji.
http://www.ucanews.com/
Women in traditional costume perform a traditional tortor dance during the Mass
The Church needs to preserve cultural practices especially when these are in line with Gospel values, said an Indonesian prelate during a special Mass for Batak people.
Batak culture emphasizes fellowship and mutual help. “This is in line with Catholic teaching,” said retired Archbishop Alfred Gonti Pius Datubara of Medan, North Sumatra during the June 13 Mass in Bekasi, West Java.
More than 1,000 Catholics, mostly tribal Batak, attended the inculturated Mass which included traditional tortor dance and gondang music performed by some 20 people in traditional costume.
Batak songs livened up the three-hour celebration.
“The tortor dance is a dance that welcomes all people without discrimination,” said Archbishop Datubara. Such cultural practices are also the “glue” that helps bind the community together.
“We must make this cultural richness a contribution to the Church in order to worship God,” he said.
The Church also “needs to preserve this cultural wealth so that it will not be gradually eradicated by modern culture,” the prelate added.
Batak people believe that gondang music is a gift from God while the tortor dance invokes blessings from God.
Holding fast to one’s culture is especially important nowadays in a rapidly changing society, says Cosmas Batubara, a politician.
As more people embrace materialism, an inculturated Mass could help remind people of what is positive in their own culture, said the Catholic layman.
Batak culture values bonds of kinship and mutual help, he said.
“People living in big cities need to be reminded of cultural values which are in line with biblical values so that they can make these a foundation for their daily lives,” said Divine Word Father Yoseph Jaga Dawan from St. Michael Church in Kranji.
http://www.ucanews.com/
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