Will Religious Freedom
Provided by the Government?
Achmad
Januar Er Putra
SMAN
10 Malang (Sampoerna Academy)
Source : ressay.wordpress.com
My
hands walk fast up to keyboard on my Toshiba laptop. Suddenly, when I’m opening
my search engine, it was surprised when there was the headline news about
religious freedom in a part of Indonesia, Blitar. My mind’s curiosity asked me
to investigate with that news. So, to emphasize my curiosity, I’m opening one
of the English-based electronic newspapers in Indonesia. Fortunately, the info
still placed in the most popular news.
I’m reading three articles from the
same electronic newspaper with the same theme; one of three articles was the
letter from the readers. The case was discussed about the dilemma in Catholic
school that getting the force from local religious affairs department in
Blitar. The head of local religious affairs department, Imam Mukhlis, was
already sent the letter to Blitar city mayor, about the decision to revoke the
permission of six Catholic schools that developed by two foundations, namely
Johannes Gabriel and Joseph Foundation. The local government said that the
“recalcitrant” Catholic schools were breaking up the Government Regulation No.
55/2007 which turns based on the Law No. 20/2003. It because the school haven’t
provide the Islamic classes for their Muslim students were taking the knowledge
on that Catholic institution.
While in the school arguments, they
will wait for the decision from their foundation center in Catholic diocese of
Surabaya. They said that the local government of Blitar mispresented the
presence of those institutions in the meeting with local religious affairs.
They also have the based law; it was stated in Article 55 (1) law no. 20/2003
about the Catholic schools were entitled to develop their own curricula based
on their religious, social, and cultural norms.
My interpretation for that case, I
think, there just happen the misunderstanding between Local Religious affairs
with Catholic Institution about the teaching and learning process. In my
opinion, I think the government should not revoke the operational permission
for those Catholic schools because they also have the mission to educate
Indonesia. More, Indonesia also provides the freedom for every person who lives
here to join or getting the religion lesson. While, for the school, it’s better
that they also provide the Islamic classes to their Muslim students. Just take
the example from Muhammadiyah institution in East Nusa Tenggara. The
Muhammadiyah provides the Christian religion for their Christian students also.
To sum up all of the case above, I
think both the local government and Catholic institution should discuss more
about that decision deeply to get the best result for both position. The best
decision will bring the best atmosphere to world! Keep on your wise decision.
2 komentar:
Januar, curiosity or courageous? :)
Anyway, it is high time for Indonesian people to start really respect what we call as plurality, isn't it?
Astaghfirullahhaladzim. I did the mistyping. Insyaallah, I will repair my posting Miss. Thank you for remind me.
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