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Catholic leader forgives attacker of Yogyakarta church
Bishop Robertus Rubyatmoko said he had forgiven Suliyono, the alleged attacker of congregation members at St.Lidwina Church in Sleman, Yogyakarta, on Feb.11. Four congregation members and one police officer were injured in the incident.
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Brotherhood: Bishop Robertus Rubyatmoko visits Buya Syafii Maarif (third left), a leader of Indonesia’s second- biggest Islamic organization, Muhammadiyah, in Yogyakarta on Feb.19. (JP/Bambang Muryanto)
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ishop Robertus Rubyatmoko said he had forgiven Suliyono, the alleged attacker of congregation members at St.Lidwina Church in Sleman, Yogyakarta, on Feb.11. Four congregation members and one police officer were injured in the incident.
“We call on all parties to avoid any revenge and instead, we should pray for his happiness in his afterlife,” Rubyatmoko told journalists during his visit to Muhammadiyah leader Buya Syafii’s house on Monday.
The bishop said he visited Syafii to express his gratitude for the latter’s visit to the church after the attack.
“Buya’s visit helped calm us. What emerged after the incident was instead a strong sense of brotherhood,” said Rubyatmoko.
Syafii said he was happy to welcome Rubyatmoko to his home. “I’m only a small ‘screw’ that is striving to promote logic and healthy thinking in this country,” he said.
After visiting Syafii, Rubyatmoko held a Mass at his church. He said the Mass was aimed at easing congregation members’ minds following the attack.
“We want all Catholics and members of society traumatized by the incident to immediately recover,” said Rubyatmoko. (ebf)
