Jakarta – Prominent Catholic scholar and author Bernardinus Herry Priyono died of cardiac arrest on Monday morning. He was 60 years old.
In a written statement made available to the press, Jesuit Indonesia said Bernardinus had lost consciousness at around 10 a.m. and was rushed to St. Carolus Hospital in Central Jakarta. He was pronounced dead at 11:20 a.m.
A prolific writer, Bernardinus had penned numerous sociopolitical essays and, most recently, a book examining the philosophical roots and impact of corruption titled Korupsi: Melacak Arti, Menyimak Implikasi (Corruption: Tracing the Meaning, Examining the Implication).
Speaking during a book launch event held by the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) in 2018, Bernardinus said he had sought to examine the multifaceted symptoms of corruption in the country through a wider lens.
"Who knows, it will probably be a useful [point of reference] for anticorruption studies and movements in Indonesia," he said of the book at the time, as quoted by the KPK website.
Born on May 31, 1960, Bernardinus also served as a lecturer at the Driyakara School of Philosophy in Jakarta. (rfa)