Issues of the day: Bogor regency seals off church

Paper Edition | Page: 8

Aug. 7, p. 8

Bogor regency administration issued an order on Monday to seal the St. Johannes Catholic church, due to permit issues.

On Monday afternoon, officers from the Public Order Agency sealed off the church after infringement notices were ignored for a third time.

 The administration had demanded that the church obtain a building permit before holding services.

“I refuse to sign the letter ordering closure. I will object to the agency, challenging the order,” Father Albertus Simbol Gaib said.

He said that since 2007, the church had submitted all documents necessary for the building permit, but the administration always rejected the application.

Your comments:

I don’t know for sure about the correlation, but I know that it is difficult to build mosques in areas where Muslims are a minority, such as Bali, Jayapura and Nabire in Papua.

Fayshol

The government is unable to defend the right of minorities. It even dreads the gangs raiding and barring those of GKI Yasmin, who want to worship their God. Our impotent leaders said that they would fight for the Rohingya, but they won’t fight for their own people’s rights. What a ridiculous government.

Article 29 of the Constitution:
1. The State shall be based upon the belief in the One and Only God.
2. The State guarantees all persons the freedom of worship, each
according to his/her own religion or belief.

Am I wrong if I say that our government has transgressed the constitution, which is the highest law in this republic?

Deyo

Forget about the church. It is no more than just a building that has no religious value at all.

Abandon it and go to any space in the neighborhood including public roads or football fields or even a cemetery that can accommodate the congregation and celebrate the mass there.

Just like what early Christians did i.e., celebrate mass secretly and move from one hidden place to another to avoid violent attacks by the authorities.

Robby Kaware

The continued persecution of minorities in Indonesia brings shame on the country and is a clear indication that Indonesia is not qualified to offer advice in the Rohingya
situation.

Clean out your own closet before you offer to help others to clean theirs.

Same spade