Jakarta (AsiaNews) – Islamic radicals held a mass rally yesterday, Ash Wednesday, in Arcamanik, Bandung (West Java)), following a proposal to turn a social centre into a place of Catholic worship, a step they strongly oppose.
Protesters claim that the facility, GSG Arcamanik, was purposed for social functions, not religion.
Local sources told AsiaNews that venue was originally built on land owned by Fr Y. Gandhi, parish priest of St Odilia Parish Church in Bandung City, with ownership later turned over to PGAK Santa Odilia, a Catholic body, which now owns and runs the place.
Although it is mainly used for weekly religious services, the owners have allowed the local community to use the venue for various social activities.
Over time, with the growth of the local Catholic community, which now numbers more than 1,400 members, its leaders want to register the building as an official place of worship, going by the book.
“We have used this venue since the 1980s, and we are currently in the process of requesting a building permit (IMB) to designate it as our place of worship,” explained Mr. Joseph, a church representative.
However, many residents oppose the plan, arguing that GSG Arcamanik is public property and should remain available for general use by all.
“In reality, we have been holding weekly worship activities here, but local hardliners have consistently protested,” Joseph said. “While we have engaged in friendly discussions, some remain unsatisfied with our explanations.”
Despite the controversy, PGAK Santa Odilia said that if local authorities approve their request, the place will continue to be available for social events, provided that no one books ahead. Loca Christians want to keep the venue open to the public and make sure that it is used by everyone.
St John Apostle’s Arcamanik Station operates under the umbrella of St Odilia’s Parish Church and is legally part of the Bandung Diocese in West Java, central Indonesia.
The building permit issued by the authorities is another matter since church construction requires the consent of Muslims living near any planned new Christian place of worship.
For this reason, Muslims often turn violent against Christians by the absence of building permits, as was the case with Yasmin Church, which had to wait several years before it could open due to pressure from radical groups.
