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Jakarta Post

Island focus: Catholic leader forgives church attacker

Bishop Robertus Rubyatmoko recently announced that he had forgiven the sword-wielding man who had attacked St

The Jakarta Post
Yogyakarta
Wed, February 21, 2018 Published on Feb. 21, 2018 Published on 2018-02-21T01:03:04+07:00

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ishop Robertus Rubyatmoko recently announced that he had forgiven the sword-wielding man who had attacked St. Lidwina Church in Sleman, Yogyakarta, on Feb. 11.

Four congregants and one police officer were injured in the incident. The assailant has been identified as Suliyono, who is currently in police custody.

“We call on all parties to avoid acts of revenge. Instead, we should pray for [Suliyono’s] happiness in his afterlife,” Rubyatmoko told journalists on Monday during his visit to the home of Muhammadiyah leader Buya Syafii, who had stopped by the church after the attack to express his support for its members.

“Buya’s visit helped calm us down. What emerged after the incident was instead a strong sense of brotherhood,” Rubyatmoko said.

Syafii gladly welcomed Rubyatmoko to his home.

“I’m only a small [cog in a big wheel] that is striving to promote logic and healthy thinking in this country,” he said.

After visiting Syafii, Rubyatmoko held a Mass at his church to ease the minds of his congregants following the attack.

“We want everyone who was traumatized by the incident to immediately recover,” Rubyatmoko said.

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