Jas Merah - Jangan sekali-sekali melupakan sejarah (Never forget history) a well known slogan first publicized by Indonesian president Sukarno appears to be the inspiration behind the publication of Politik Katolik: Politik Kebaikan Bersama.

Without disparaging non-Catholic scholars and other important Indonesian politician figures who took an active role in the country's political backdrop, this book is an attempt to reveal and disseminate historical evidence of Catholic figures in their quest for bonum commune (prosperity for all) in politics, business and education.

The book, a collection of both historical narratives and reflective articles, was written with the goal of informing readers that Catholic doctrines have never prevented the Catholic people, including priests, from playing active roles in the country's politics.

The most widely quoted dictum, by the late Mgr. Soegijapranata, SJ., "to be 100 percent Catholic and 100 percent Indonesian," bears testimony to the fact that Catholic people are discouraged from being "free riders" and refraining from political activity in the country. The political arena is seen as the best conduit for Catholic people to help influence policy-making to achieve the highest goal in politics - Salus populi suprema lex.

The involvement of Catholic people in politics is viewed as a "holy call" and a "a call for the common good", which creates the opportunity for the Catholic people to show their moral commitment to upholding Catholic values for the sake of the prosperity of all.

Apolitical attitudes and indifference to politics, on the other hand, are deemed incompatible with values inherent in human beings as homo politicus (politic beings) and homo socialis (social beings).

Catholic politics, it is said in the book, should center on and side with the weak, the oppressed and the marginalized. In essence, Catholic principles must be a part of practicing any kinds of politics in the country.

The late J.B. Mangunwijaya, for example, who tirelessly fought against the totalitarianism of the New Order regime in order to help the marginalized community of Kedungombo, Central Java, became the epitome of the political struggle to snub tyranny and defend the rights of the oppressed.

It is also worth noting that the involvement of Catholic freedom fighters was a key part of the struggle for the country's independence. History has recorded that Catholic fighters such as Agustinus Adisoetjipto, Ignatius Slamet Rijadi, and Yos Sudarso were among those who lost their lives defending the country's sovereignty against the Dutch.

Other figures who deserve a mention for their role in the country's Independence include Frans van Lith, SJ., Mgr. Albertus Soegijapranata, SJ., and Frans Seda. Each had differing roles yet all aimed to achieve the same goal.

In fact, before the country's Independence, noted Catholic figures such as Raden Mas Jakob Soedjadi and Ignatius Joseph Kasimo had shown their political commitment to the country by actively engaging themselves in political landscape in Volksraad, which was inaugurated on May 21, 1918 in Jakarta.

Because of the political contributions of these figures, Catholic people gradually became aware that politics was a noble task which wasn't supposed to be desisted, and that their Catholic beliefs could be brought to the political milieu.

With the Catholic people's heightened awareness of politics, post-Independence was then marked by the boom of Catholic political parties nationwide. They included the Partai Katolik Republik Indonesia (PKRI) in Surakarta, the Partai Katolik Indonesia Timor (PARKIT) in Timor, the Persatuan Politik Katolik Flores (PERPOKAF) in Flores, and the Partai Katolik Indonesia Kalimantan (PARKIKA) in Kalimantan.

Though the close ties between Mgr. Albertus Soegijapranata, SJ., Frans Seda, I.J. Kasimo with Soekarno, the downfall of the Old Order didn't render Catholic politics stagnant.

During the New Order era, Catholic politicians didn't lose their appeal. Frans Seda was a trusted of then president Soeharto's AMPERA cabinet, as Finance Minister.

Other new faces emerged, occupying strategic posts in Soeharto's fourth Cabinet of Development including J.B. Sumarlin, head of the National Development Planning Board (Bappenas); Cosmas Batubara, Minister of People's Housing and Military Chief L.B. Moerdani.

Reveling in its content, this book is a good reference for any reader whishing to be well-informed of the never-ending struggle of Catholic figures in their quest for the common good through politics.

Politik Katolik: Politik Kebaikan Bersama (Catholic Politics: The Politics of Common Good)

Editors: Mikhael Dua, Febiana R. Kaimana and Kasdin Sihotang

Yayasan Obor Indonesia

268 pages

2008

The writer is chief-editor of Indonesian Journal of English Language Teaching and teaches English composition at Atma Jaya Catholic University, Jakarta. He can be reached at setiono.sugiharto@atmajaya.ac.id.

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