Photo by Erlinawati Graham
“Religion is being used as an instrument of power in Indonesia, manipulated by the State and big business. Politicians are continuing to use religion for their own ends and consequently risking harmony.”
The words are those of Antonius Benny Susetyo best known as Romo (Father) Benny and probably the most recognisable Catholic priest in Muslim-majority Indonesia.
Benny was always good on TV, vigorously advocating rational inquiry and pluralism, and in-demand for public debates. In one campaign he unsuccessfully supported scrapping religious affiliation from ID cards, later telling this writer: “It will be some time before Indonesians can accept the idea that the state and religion should be divorced. Religion has become a plaything of the state. The important things are not the number of places of worship, but the creation of a life of togetherness. We have to become better educated and intellectually more mature.”
Now Benny’s stirring has stopped. The prominent social activist died last week, aged 55, of complications with diabetes. He leaves a gulf in the never-ending debate about religion in the Republic.
Indonesia’s leading daily Kompas headlined his passing by mourning the ‘Pro Common People Clergyman and Critic of the Catholic Church’. Hundreds of wreaths were sent to his funeral by members of all religions – and political leaders including President Joko ‘Jokowi’ Widodo.
Benny fell ill while lecturing on ‘The Fragility of Ethics’ in Pontianak, the capital of West Kalimantan. His job was Stafsus (special staff) with the national Pancasila Ideology Development Agency. Founding president Soekarno helped create Indonesia’s national ideology, the Pancasila (five principles, including belief in the one and only God) partly to counter radicals’ demands that the new nation be a theocracy.
Benny has not been apolitical, favouring the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), led by Soekarno’s daughter, the fifth President Megawati Soekarnoputri (2001-2004). In fact, Benny’s brother Andreas is a member of the Dewan Perwakilan Rakyat (House of Representatives) for PDI-P.
Megawati joined the mourners at Benny’s burial in Sukun cemetery in Malang, East Java, where he was born and educated in Catholic theology and philosophy. Just three per cent of the population (less than 9 million) is Catholic, with the faith dominant only in Flores and other Eastern Islands. Its temporal work includes non-discriminatory hospitals, schools and universities. After graduating, the Church tasked Benny to seek common ground with Muslims. This mission was rapidly tested by fire – literally, as mobs started fighting non-Muslims and torching churches in the chaos following Soeharto quitting office.
In 2008, Benny was bashed by thugs believed to be from the radical Front Pembela Islam (Islamic Defenders’ Front) when they attacked peace marchers in central Jakarta. He spent five days in a Singapore hospital. The Christian press claimed Benny was the victim of a planned assault by fundamentalists trying to fracture Indonesian pluralism. The victim said he didn’t know why he was bashed and had forgiven his assailants. “Maybe they were after my handphone,” he joked.
A decade ago Benny was interviewed by this journalist. There’s no evidence Benny shifted his philosophies since, although last year he retired from diocesan duties to focus on advocacy. Perhaps the best way to remember Benny is in his own words.
It’s a priest’s calling to be concerned with souls, to teach the Gospel. How do you justify your involvement in politics?
“A priest’s job is also to speak out on issues concerning the people’s welfare, morality and ethics, to be concerned for humanity, peace and justice. That’s the teaching of Catholicism; these are the values of all religions.”
Are you in danger of putting off Muslim voters by expecting Protestants and Catholics to vote for Jokowi (then the PDI-P candidate)?
“I’m not trying to cause divisions and wish religion wasn’t part of politics. Jesus was a politician because he advocated for the poor and weak against the rulers – but he wasn’t a member of a political party.
Many religious people don’t understand politics, so need information, to have issues explained. That’s my role. A priest must also follow his conscience.”
Has that got you into strife?
“With a few, though not the Vatican. Pope Francis has spoken out against inequalities caused by bad economic policies.”
Isn’t this all academic? Non-Muslims are such a small minority with little influence.
“Every non-Muslim is still part of our Republic. Everyone has influence, whoever they are, irrespective of their religion.”
In the UK you’ve spoken on ‘Pluralism in Peril in Indonesia’. What do you mean?
“All the evidence shows intolerance is growing and spreading beyond the original pockets.”
What do you expect from the next president?
“To stamp out corruption, that’s number one. He should uphold Pancasila and strengthen the rule of law. He must stop the abuse of power and care for the poor.”
Many argue Indonesia needs a strong leader so the president should be a military man.
“The Indonesian people don’t need a dictator. We want honest leaders with rational policies, not populist slogans. If you interview me in five years, I hope that religious issues won’t be part of the campaign.”
How do you feel about the future of democracy in Indonesia?
“Optimistic if the people are rational in their approach to politics, but not if we continue following the culture of the elite. We need a new paradigm for religious teaching that will interpret the texts in accordance with modern usage.
Take off your exclusive glasses and start looking at the world in an inclusive way. The dialogue must be about life. The challenge for religion is to take sides with the downtrodden, the poor, migrant workers – and advocate on their behalf. Plurality should be the main issue in the development of our national character.”
