Our Lady of the Assumption Cathedral Church in Jakarta holds an online Sunday Mass on March 22. (Photo courtesy of Jakarta Cathedral Church)
There is an assumption, and understandably so, that the Indonesian Church lacks transparency when it comes to finance. There is also an impression we are talking abut the entire local Church as though all communities are the same, Of course, that is not the case. It is not the intention of this article to put all communities in the same box.
Most assumptions about the lack of transparency, however, have never been tested through an independent audit even though it could be the best way to determine whether an assumption is based on fact or mere fiction. If it was fiction, allegations of lack of transparency would be considered a slander against the institution of the Church.
Clergymen going on the defensive have even labeled allegations of corruption and sexual misconduct within the Church as an attempt to bring down the institution of the Church. Apparently, according to them, there is an “anti-Christ” movement that endeavors to create and spread rumors about unethical behavior in the Church. The aim, as some have said, is to damage the reputation of the Church and to cause public mistrust. This is a big claim. The truth of it remains unexplorable.
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