Pemimpin tertinggi Gereja Katolik Paus Benedictus XVI telah mengangkat tiga uskup baru untuk Vietnam. Para uskup baru itu diberi tanggung jawab untuk mempererat hubungan dengan pemerintah komunis Vietnam.
Pernyataan resmi Vatikan, Sabtu (25/7), menyebutkan, ketiga uskup baru itu adalah Mgr Joseph Vu Duy Thong untuk Keuskupan Phan Thiet, Mgr Pierre Nguyen Van De untuk Keuskupan Thai Binh, dan Joseph Nguyen Nang untuk Keuskupan Phat Diem.
Bulan lalu, Paus Benediktus menyampaikan harapannya yang besar untuk terjalinnya hubungan yang lebih sehat antara Gereja Katolik Roma dan pemerintah Vietnam. Di Vietnam, jumlah umat Katolik mencapai enam juta orang, dan termasuk jumlah terbanyak di Asia.
Ketegangan antara umat beriman --sebutan untuk penganut Katolik-- dan pemerintah sudah berlangsung lama, sejak 1954. Pemerintah mengawasi dengan ketat umat Katolik. Pemerintah juga selalu menolak pengangkatan pemimpin gereja.
Akan tetapi, akhir-akhir ini hubungan antara Gereja Katolik dan pemerintah itu makin cair. Perdana Menteri Nguyen Tan Dung bahkan menemui Paus ketika ia mengunjungi Vatikan pada tahun 2007. Tan Dung adalah pemimpin tertinggi negeri itu yang pernah bertemu Paus.
Awal pekan ini kantor berita Asia News mengutip pernyataan Kardinal Pham Minh Man yang menyatakan bahhwa Presiden Vietnam akan bertemu Paus di Vatikan pada bulan Desember mendatang.
Sabtu, 25 Juli 2009 | 21:19 WIB
VATICAN CITY, KOMPAS.com- http://internasional.kompas.com/read/xml/2009/07/25/21195962/paus.angkat.tiga.uskup.baru.vietnam
Senin, 05 Oktober 2009
Jumat, 02 Oktober 2009
Djohan Effendi, Merayakan Perbedaan
Djohan Effendi tidak sedang bicara politis atau upaya membangun citra. Dia bicara hal yang substansial tentang kebebasan beragama dan berkeyakinan sebagai hak eksistensial manusia. Bukan basa-basi, melainkan aktif mempraktikkan teologi toleransi dengan tujuan memperkuat fondasi dan wawasan kebangsaan. Baginya, Indonesia dengan berbagai keragaman dan perbedaan merupakan berkah yang perlu disyukuri dan dikembangkan.
Terbentang panjang rekam jejaknya. Sejak tahun 1967, bersama Ahmad Wahib dan Dawam Rahardjo, Djohan mengembangkan teologi toleransi dalam diskusi kelompok Limited Group di Yogyakarta. ”Inisiatif kegiatan digagas Wahib. Nama Limited Group berasal dari Dawam,” kata Djohan merendah.
Bersama Mukti Ali, dosen mereka di IAIN Sunan Kalijaga (UIN Sunan Kalijaga), Yogyakarta, awalnya kegiatan ini hanya melibatkan empat orang. Lama-lama bergabung pula sejumlah tokoh agama lain, seperti Dick Hartoko SJ, JWM Bakker SJ, dan Purbowinoto. Buku Pergolakan Pemikiran Islam: Catatan Harian Ahmad Wahib, refleksi pembaruan kelompok diskusi mingguan itu, sempat menghebohkan. Kontroversi merebak menyangkut gugatan anak-anak muda terhadap berbagai hal yang tabu dalam Islam.
Kegiatan Limited Group ibarat pembuka kunci pembaruan. ”Padahal sebelumnya istilah pembaruan di kalangan Islam masih tabu.” Otokritik yang mereka lakukan ibarat bola salju menggelindingkan pembaruan dalam Islam.
Memang, inklinasi merayakan perbedaan Djohan terbentuk semakin liat di Yogyakarta, semasa kuliah di Fakultas Syariah IAIN Sunan Kalijaga (1963-1970). Dia memperoleh lahan subur yang dipupuk oleh kehadiran Mukti Ali, yang waktu itu masih sebagai dosen. Lingkungan intelektual yang terbiasa diskusi bebas membentuk intelektualitas Djohan yang dari sono-nya pluralis dan moderat. Limited Group menyemarakkan diskursus keislaman.
Menurut Djohan, para pendiri negara ini sudah menaruhkan fondasi visi kebangsaan Indonesia. Pancasila merupakan warisan amat berharga, bekal mengembangkan visi kebangsaan. Mereka pun merumuskan teologi yang diterima semua kalangan. Kaum Muslim rela menghapuskan tujuh kata dalam klausul Piagam Jakarta dan menghentikan hasrat mendirikan negara Islam. Kebebasan beragama merupakan pertaruhan kelestarian Indonesia yang dibangun atas kemajemukan. Indonesia merupakan melting pot yang menyatukan berbagai unsur agama.
Kedudukan sebagai pejabat Departemen Agama dan penulis pidato-pidato Soeharto yang berkaitan dengan masalah keagamaan membuka ruang bagi kesempatan mewujudkan ide-ide kemajemukan dalam keputusan politis, termasuk meletakkan dasar-dasar toleransi dan kehidupan umat beragama.
Ketika Mukti Ali sebagai Menteri Agama—Djohan begitu lulus IAIN tahun 1970 ditarik ke Departemen Agama dan kemudian staf pribadi menteri—hidup subur upaya dialog antaragama. Pada masa itu berkembang berbagai bentuk terobosan, mulai dari dialog antaragama, dialog antarumat beragama, sampai dialog karya sebagai awal dari dialog iman.
Dalam pidato penganugerahan gelar ahli peneliti utama (profesor riset) tahun 1992, Djohan menyinggung keberadaan kelompok minoritas seperti Konghucu. Pernyataan ini diminta agar dicoret. ”Saya tak mau. Dalam pidato, kalimat itu saya ucapkan.”
Bukan penjara
”Pada setiap agama mengandung kebenaran,” kata Djohan Effendi, di kantornya Indonesian Conference on Religion and Peace (ICRP), Cempaka Putih, Jakarta. Agama bukanlah penjara, tetapi sarana evolusi diri mencapai pencerahan tanpa batas. Adanya berbagai agama adalah anugerah. Itulah pencarian spiritual yang tulus. Sebuah penziarahan bersama. Djohan merasa sedih ketika terjadi pertikaian yang berlatar belakang agama di Indonesia. Agama tak bisa dilihat hitam putih. Semua dikembalikan kepada humanisme dengan kemanusiaan yang mempersatukan.
Mengutip pernyataan salah satu temannya, teolog Katolik, Hans Kung, Djohan berkata, mempelajari bermacam-macam agama berarti memperoleh perdamaian. Dalam setiap agama ditemukan perdamaian. Tak salah kalau dia kemudian terlibat dalam berbagai lembaga yang mempertemukan agama-agama, seperti di Majelis Budhayana Indonesia, DIAN/Interfidei, Madia, dan ICRP—lembaga yang dia bersama-sama ikut dirikan—kantor yang kini menjadi salah satu terminal kegiatan Djohan sehari-hari.
Begitu lulus sarjana tahun 1970, bersama Mukti Ali, ia lagi-lagi memperoleh lahan subur mengembangkan dialog agama. Setelah lima tahun sebagai staf pribadi Menteri Agama, Djohan dikaryakan di Sekretariat Negara. Karier sebagai penulis pidato Soeharto selesai ketika Djohan mendampingi KH Abdurrahman Wahid (Gus Dur) berkunjung ke Israel, tahun 1984, kunjungan yang memperoleh banyak tentangan di Indonesia.
Ketika Malik Fadjar sebagai Menteri Agama, Djohan diangkat sebagai Kepala Litbang Departemen Agama. Dia berkantor selama 24 jam. ”Rumah”-nya berupa kamar istirahat, satu pintu masuk dengan ruang tamunya di Lantai II Kantor Balitbang Departemen Agama, Jalan MH Thamrin. Setiap tiga bulan sekali pergi ke Geelong, di Victoria, Australia, sebab selain istri dan ketiga anaknya tinggal di sana, Djohan tengah menempuh kandidat doktor di Universitas Deakin, Geelong. Dia memperoleh gelar doktor (2005) dengan disertasi tentang pemikiran progresif kalangan muda NU, kiai muda NU, dan wanita NU.
Tidak selantang Gus Dur atau Nurcholish Madjid (Cak Nur), inklusivitas Djohan Effendi termasuk liberal yang rajin mengampanyekan dialog antaragama, membangun jaringan di antara mereka, serta punya perhatian besar kepada kelompok minoritas.
Dalam rangka perayaan 70 tahun usianya, terbit dua buku: Sang Pelintas Batas. Biografi Djohan Effendi yang ditulis Ahmad Gaus AF serta Merayakan Kebebasan Beragama—bunga rampai tulisan koleganya tentang persoalan yang selama ini digeluti Djohan Effendi. Peluncuran kedua buku itu akan dilaksanakan 6 Oktober.
Persisnya ulang tahun tanggal 1 Oktober, mengapa baru 5 Oktober (diskusi terbatas) dan 6 Oktober dirayakan? ”Habis Lebaran. Teman-teman masih mudik, belum kumpul semua,” sergah Siti Musdah Mulia, Ketua Umum Pengurus Yayasan ICRP.
Penulis: St.Sularto
Kamis, 1 Oktober 2009 | 04:25 WIB
Source:http://cetak.kompas.com/read/xml/2009/10/01/04250027/djohan.effendi.merayakan.perbedaan
Rabu, 23 September 2009
Akankah "Roma Ketiga" Bersatu Dengan "Roma Pertama"?
Will the "Third Rome" Reunite With the "First Rome"?
Recent Meeting Could Mark Turning PointBy Robert Moynihan
WASHINGTON, D.C., SEPT. 21, 2009 (Zenit.org)- Sometimes there are no fireworks. Turning points can pass in silence, almost unobserved.
It may be that way with the "Great Schism," the most serious division in the history of the Church. The end of the schism may come more quickly and more unexpectedly than most imagine.
On Sept. 18, inside Castel Gandolfo, the Pope's summer palace about 30 miles outside Rome, a Russian Orthodox Archbishop named Hilarion Alfeyev, 43 (a scholar, theologian, expert on the liturgy, composer and lover of music), met with Benedict XVI, 82 (also a scholar, theologian, expert on the liturgy and lover of music), for almost two hours, according to informed sources. (There are as yet no "official" sources about this meeting -- the Holy See has still not released an official communiqué about the meeting.)
The silence suggests that what transpired was important -- perhaps so important that the Holy See thinks it isn't yet prudent to reveal publicly what was discussed.
But there are numerous "signs" that the meeting was remarkably harmonious.
If so, this Sept. 18 meeting may have marked a turning point in relations between the "Third Rome" (Moscow) and the "First Rome" (Rome) -- divided since 1054.
Archbishop Hilarion was in Rome for five days last week as the representative of the new Russian Orthodox Patriarch Kirill of Moscow.
One key person Archbishop Hilarion met with was Cardinal Walter Kasper. On Sept. 17, the cardinal told Vatican Radio that he and Archbishop Hilarion had a "very calm conversation."
Cardinal Kasper also revealed something astonishing: that he had suggested to the archbishop that the Orthodox Churches form some kind of "bishops' conference at the European level" that would constitute a "direct partner of cooperation" in future meetings.
This would be a revolutionary step in the organization of the Orthodox Churches.
WASHINGTON, D.C., SEPT. 21, 2009 (Zenit.org)- Sometimes there are no fireworks. Turning points can pass in silence, almost unobserved.
It may be that way with the "Great Schism," the most serious division in the history of the Church. The end of the schism may come more quickly and more unexpectedly than most imagine.
On Sept. 18, inside Castel Gandolfo, the Pope's summer palace about 30 miles outside Rome, a Russian Orthodox Archbishop named Hilarion Alfeyev, 43 (a scholar, theologian, expert on the liturgy, composer and lover of music), met with Benedict XVI, 82 (also a scholar, theologian, expert on the liturgy and lover of music), for almost two hours, according to informed sources. (There are as yet no "official" sources about this meeting -- the Holy See has still not released an official communiqué about the meeting.)
The silence suggests that what transpired was important -- perhaps so important that the Holy See thinks it isn't yet prudent to reveal publicly what was discussed.
But there are numerous "signs" that the meeting was remarkably harmonious.
If so, this Sept. 18 meeting may have marked a turning point in relations between the "Third Rome" (Moscow) and the "First Rome" (Rome) -- divided since 1054.
Archbishop Hilarion was in Rome for five days last week as the representative of the new Russian Orthodox Patriarch Kirill of Moscow.
One key person Archbishop Hilarion met with was Cardinal Walter Kasper. On Sept. 17, the cardinal told Vatican Radio that he and Archbishop Hilarion had a "very calm conversation."
Cardinal Kasper also revealed something astonishing: that he had suggested to the archbishop that the Orthodox Churches form some kind of "bishops' conference at the European level" that would constitute a "direct partner of cooperation" in future meetings.
This would be a revolutionary step in the organization of the Orthodox Churches.
Papal-Patriarch encounter?
Cardinal Kasper said a Pope-Patriarch meeting was not on the immediate agenda, and would probably not take place in Moscow or Rome, but in some "neutral" place (Hungary, Austria and Belarus are possibilities).
Archbishop Hilarion himself revealed much about how his Rome visit was proceeding when he met on the evening of Sept. 17 (before his meeting with the Pope) with the Community of Sant'Egidio, an Italian Catholic group known for its work with the poor in Rome.
"We live in a de-Christianized world, in a time that some define -- mistakenly -- as post-Christian," Archbishop Hilarion said. "Contemporary society, with its practical materialism and moral relativism, is a challenge to us all. The future of humanity depends on our response… More than ever before, we Christians must stand together."
A report from Interfax, the news service of the Moscow Patriarchate, on Sept. 18 revealed that Archbishop Hilarion spoke to the Pope about "cooperation between the Russian Orthodox and Roman Catholic Churches in the area of moral values and of culture" -- in particular during the "Days of Russian Spiritual Culture," a type of exhibit with lectures scheduled for spring 2010 in Rome. (One might imagine that the Pope himself could attend such an exhibition).
In memory of the visit, Archbishop Hilarion gave the Pope a pectoral cross, made in workshops of Russian Orthodox Church, the report said, Interfax reported.
Today, an Interfax report supplied details of Hilarion's remarks this morning in the catacombs of St. Callixtus.
"Denied by the world, far from human eyes, deep under ground in caves, the first Roman Christians performed the feat of prayer," Hilarion said. "Their life brought the fruit of holiness and martyr heroism. The Holy Church was built on their blood shed for Christ."
Then the Church came out of the catacombs, but Christian unity was lost, the archbishop said.
Archbishop Hilarion said that human sin is the cause of all divisions, while Christian unity can be restored only in the way of sanctity.
"Each of us, conscientiously fulfilling a task the Church has given him or her, is called to personally contribute to the treasury of Christian sanctity and work to achieve God-commanded Christian unity," the archbishop said.
A second Interfax report today added further information about the meeting with the Pope.
Growing influence
"During a talk with Pope Benedict XVI, Archbishop Hilarion of Volokolamsk pointed out the status of Orthodox believers in Western Ukraine where three Orthodox dioceses had been almost eliminated as a result of coercive actions of Greek Catholics in late 1980s and early 1990s," Interfax reported.
Archbishop Hilarion "stated the need to take practical steps to improve the situation in Western Ukraine," within the territories of Lvov, Ternopol and Invano-Frankovsk Dioceses, the report said.
Meanwhile, in Russia itself, the influence of the Russian Orthodox Church, headed by Patriarch Kirill, seems to be growing, though not without opposition.
The rise in Russia of Kirill and his increasing influence in legislative matters seems to be arousing opposition from the "siloviki," forces connected with the old KGB.
In an article in the current issue of Argumenty Nedeli, Andrey Uglanov says that Kirill's extraordinary activity has attracted attention from some who do not like to have their positions questioned, let alone challenged. And that has become Kirill's "big problem."
These "siloviki," Uglanov says, have been offended by Kirill's "anti-Stalinist and anti-Bolshevik actions," including his appearance at the Solovetsky stone in Moscow's Lubyanka Square on the very Day of the Memory of the Victims of Political Repression.
In this context, Hilarion's visit to Rome takes on even more importance.
The Russian Orthodox Church is a power in Russia, but it faces opposition and needs allies.
What is occurring in Hilarion's visit to Rome, then, may have ramifications not only for the overcoming of the "Great Schism," but also for the cultural, religious and political future of Russia, and of Europe as a whole.
It is especially significant, in this context, that Hilarion, Kirill's "Foreign Minister," has some of the same deep interests as Benedict XVI: the liturgy, and music.
"As a 15-year-old boy I first entered the sanctuary of the Lord, the Holy of Holies of the Orthodox Church,” Hilarion once wrote about the Orthodox liturgy. “But it was only after my entrance into the altar that the 'theourgia,' the mystery, and 'feast of faith' began, which continues to this very day.
"After my ordination, I saw my destiny and main calling in serving the Divine Liturgy. Indeed, everything else, such as sermons, pastoral care and theological scholarship were centered around the main focal point of my life -- the liturgy."
Archbishop Hilarion himself revealed much about how his Rome visit was proceeding when he met on the evening of Sept. 17 (before his meeting with the Pope) with the Community of Sant'Egidio, an Italian Catholic group known for its work with the poor in Rome.
"We live in a de-Christianized world, in a time that some define -- mistakenly -- as post-Christian," Archbishop Hilarion said. "Contemporary society, with its practical materialism and moral relativism, is a challenge to us all. The future of humanity depends on our response… More than ever before, we Christians must stand together."
A report from Interfax, the news service of the Moscow Patriarchate, on Sept. 18 revealed that Archbishop Hilarion spoke to the Pope about "cooperation between the Russian Orthodox and Roman Catholic Churches in the area of moral values and of culture" -- in particular during the "Days of Russian Spiritual Culture," a type of exhibit with lectures scheduled for spring 2010 in Rome. (One might imagine that the Pope himself could attend such an exhibition).
In memory of the visit, Archbishop Hilarion gave the Pope a pectoral cross, made in workshops of Russian Orthodox Church, the report said, Interfax reported.
Today, an Interfax report supplied details of Hilarion's remarks this morning in the catacombs of St. Callixtus.
"Denied by the world, far from human eyes, deep under ground in caves, the first Roman Christians performed the feat of prayer," Hilarion said. "Their life brought the fruit of holiness and martyr heroism. The Holy Church was built on their blood shed for Christ."
Then the Church came out of the catacombs, but Christian unity was lost, the archbishop said.
Archbishop Hilarion said that human sin is the cause of all divisions, while Christian unity can be restored only in the way of sanctity.
"Each of us, conscientiously fulfilling a task the Church has given him or her, is called to personally contribute to the treasury of Christian sanctity and work to achieve God-commanded Christian unity," the archbishop said.
A second Interfax report today added further information about the meeting with the Pope.
Growing influence
"During a talk with Pope Benedict XVI, Archbishop Hilarion of Volokolamsk pointed out the status of Orthodox believers in Western Ukraine where three Orthodox dioceses had been almost eliminated as a result of coercive actions of Greek Catholics in late 1980s and early 1990s," Interfax reported.
Archbishop Hilarion "stated the need to take practical steps to improve the situation in Western Ukraine," within the territories of Lvov, Ternopol and Invano-Frankovsk Dioceses, the report said.
Meanwhile, in Russia itself, the influence of the Russian Orthodox Church, headed by Patriarch Kirill, seems to be growing, though not without opposition.
The rise in Russia of Kirill and his increasing influence in legislative matters seems to be arousing opposition from the "siloviki," forces connected with the old KGB.
In an article in the current issue of Argumenty Nedeli, Andrey Uglanov says that Kirill's extraordinary activity has attracted attention from some who do not like to have their positions questioned, let alone challenged. And that has become Kirill's "big problem."
These "siloviki," Uglanov says, have been offended by Kirill's "anti-Stalinist and anti-Bolshevik actions," including his appearance at the Solovetsky stone in Moscow's Lubyanka Square on the very Day of the Memory of the Victims of Political Repression.
In this context, Hilarion's visit to Rome takes on even more importance.
The Russian Orthodox Church is a power in Russia, but it faces opposition and needs allies.
What is occurring in Hilarion's visit to Rome, then, may have ramifications not only for the overcoming of the "Great Schism," but also for the cultural, religious and political future of Russia, and of Europe as a whole.
It is especially significant, in this context, that Hilarion, Kirill's "Foreign Minister," has some of the same deep interests as Benedict XVI: the liturgy, and music.
"As a 15-year-old boy I first entered the sanctuary of the Lord, the Holy of Holies of the Orthodox Church,” Hilarion once wrote about the Orthodox liturgy. “But it was only after my entrance into the altar that the 'theourgia,' the mystery, and 'feast of faith' began, which continues to this very day.
"After my ordination, I saw my destiny and main calling in serving the Divine Liturgy. Indeed, everything else, such as sermons, pastoral care and theological scholarship were centered around the main focal point of my life -- the liturgy."
Liturgy
These words seem to echo the feelings and experiences of Benedict XVI, who has written that the liturgies of Holy Saturday and Easter Sunday in Bavaria when he was a child were formative for his entire being, and that his writing on the liturgy (one of his books is entitled "Feast of Faith") is the most important to him of all his scholarly endeavors.
"Orthodox divine services are a priceless treasure that we must carefully guard," Hilarion has written. "I have had the opportunity to be present at both Protestant and Catholic services, which were, with rare exceptions, quite disappointing… Since the liturgical reforms of the Second Vatican Council, services in some Catholic churches have become little different from Protestant ones."
Again, these words of Hilarion seem to echo Benedict XVI's own concerns. The Pope has made it clear that he wishes to reform the Catholic Church's liturgy, and preserve what was contained in the old liturgy and now risks being lost.
Hilarion has cited the Orthodox St. John of Kronstadt approvingly. St. John of Kronstadt wrote: "The Church and its divine services are an embodiment and realization of everything in Christianity... It is the divine wisdom, accessible to simple, loving hearts."
These words echo words written by Cardinal Ratzinger, now Benedict XVI, who often said that the liturgy is a "school" for the simple Christian, imparting the deep truths of the faith even to the unlearned through its prayers, gestures and hymns.
Hilarion in recent years has become known for his musical compositions, especially for Christmas and for Good Friday, celebrating the birth and the Passion of Jesus Christ. These works have been performed in Moscow and in the West, in Rome in March 2007 and in Washington DC in December 2007.
Closer relations between Rome and Moscow, then, could have profound implications also for the cultural and liturgical life of the Church in the West. There could be a renewal of Christian art and culture, as well as of faith.
All of this was at stake in the quiet meeting between Archbishop Hilarion and Benedict XVI on Friday afternoon, in the castle overlooking Lake Albano.
These words seem to echo the feelings and experiences of Benedict XVI, who has written that the liturgies of Holy Saturday and Easter Sunday in Bavaria when he was a child were formative for his entire being, and that his writing on the liturgy (one of his books is entitled "Feast of Faith") is the most important to him of all his scholarly endeavors.
"Orthodox divine services are a priceless treasure that we must carefully guard," Hilarion has written. "I have had the opportunity to be present at both Protestant and Catholic services, which were, with rare exceptions, quite disappointing… Since the liturgical reforms of the Second Vatican Council, services in some Catholic churches have become little different from Protestant ones."
Again, these words of Hilarion seem to echo Benedict XVI's own concerns. The Pope has made it clear that he wishes to reform the Catholic Church's liturgy, and preserve what was contained in the old liturgy and now risks being lost.
Hilarion has cited the Orthodox St. John of Kronstadt approvingly. St. John of Kronstadt wrote: "The Church and its divine services are an embodiment and realization of everything in Christianity... It is the divine wisdom, accessible to simple, loving hearts."
These words echo words written by Cardinal Ratzinger, now Benedict XVI, who often said that the liturgy is a "school" for the simple Christian, imparting the deep truths of the faith even to the unlearned through its prayers, gestures and hymns.
Hilarion in recent years has become known for his musical compositions, especially for Christmas and for Good Friday, celebrating the birth and the Passion of Jesus Christ. These works have been performed in Moscow and in the West, in Rome in March 2007 and in Washington DC in December 2007.
Closer relations between Rome and Moscow, then, could have profound implications also for the cultural and liturgical life of the Church in the West. There could be a renewal of Christian art and culture, as well as of faith.
All of this was at stake in the quiet meeting between Archbishop Hilarion and Benedict XVI on Friday afternoon, in the castle overlooking Lake Albano.
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