Catholic leaders and lawmakers in the Archdiocese of Semarang called on the Church to take a more active role in promoting civic responsibility and democratic participation among the faithful.
At a regional forum held at St. Theresia Parish in Sedayu, Bantul, early this month, speakers emphasized that the Church’s mission should go beyond spiritual formation and include direct engagement in the country’s social and political life.
“The Church and the state can work together in channeling the aspirations of the people. Forums like this are important so the faithful not only understand policies but can also voice their needs,” said Dominikus Radjut Sukasworo, a member of the Yogyakarta Regional Parliament. “The faithful do not remain passive recipients of policy but become active agents in the democratic process.”
Ranggabumi Nuswantoro, a lecturer at Atma Jaya University Yogyakarta, stressed the importance of grassroots organizing. “Long-established neighborhood groups within the Church should serve as the base for social movements and a natural ground for leadership development,” he said.
He also urged Catholics to exercise discernment amid the flood of media narratives, calling it “vital for maintaining independence and critical capacity in social ministries.”
National legislator G.M. Totok Hedi Santosa encouraged more open and inclusive leadership within the Church.
“Information today tends to be one-way and dominated by certain groups. Without realizing it, this limits our capacity to think. That’s why direct discussion and exchange of ideas are so crucial,” he said. “Leadership is not just about hierarchy, but about the responsibility to shape the future of the faithful.”
Fr. Alfonsus Rodriguez Yudono Suwondo, Pr, Episcopal Vicar of West Yogyakarta, called on lay Catholics to embody their faith through public service.
“The lay apostolate is not merely an extension of the Church, but a concrete expression of faith in the public sphere. This must be carried out with love, courage, and a spirit of service,” he said.
Warning of ideological threats to Indonesia’s national unity, he added, “If left unaddressed, these threats to Pancasila could endanger our national integrity. The Church must actively promote unity and reinforce the foundations of the nation.”
Organizers said the forum affirmed the Church’s strategic role in shaping citizens who are not only spiritually grounded but also socially engaged and committed to the common good.
