Denpasar (AsiaNews/UCAN) – The majority Hindu population of Bali has approved the construction of a Catholic Church complex, even providing security guards for the groundbreaking ceremony. The site was opened in a ceremony presided by Fr Hubertus Hadi Setiawan, vicar-general of Denpasar diocese and attended by several Hindu religious leaders.

The complex, stretching over 3,500 square metres and including a rectory and bible school, will be constructed at Uma Sari, 945km from Jakarta near Denpasar, provincial capital of Bali. The complex will belong to St Joseph parish, set up in 1935 and now based on the city outskirts. According to records from 2001, the parish has 6,000 faithful and the current church building can no longer cater for them.

Piet Made Puriatma, president of the pastoral council of St Joseph parish, confirmed "the full support for the construction of the new complex" of the population and the city council.

Hindu leader, Putu Gedong, explained that the population "welcomed the faithful of all religions" and that "Catholics have the right to build a place of worship, as stipulated in the constitution". He augured that the new complex would contribute "to promoting solidarity and tolerance among the population and to living together in peace."

According to article 3 of Bali's provincial regulation no.33 of 2003, the resident population must give a favourable recommendation for the construction of a new religious building. The province has more than 3.1 million residents; around 93% are Hindu.