Regarding The Regent Of Lebak Asking For Christmas Worship In Rangkasbitung, BPIP: State Guarantee Citizens Run Religions According To Belief

Illustration of the 2022 Christmas and 2023 New Year holidays at a mall in Jakarta. (Between)

JAKARTA - Special Staff Chairman of the Steering Committee of the Pancasila Ideology Development Agency (BPIP) Antonius Benny Susetyo asked officials to give understanding to the community for the creation of mutual respect for fellow religious communities according to the constitution.

"Because the Indonesian state guarantees every citizen to carry out their religion according to their beliefs," said the man who is familiarly called Father Benny in his statement, Tuesday, December 20, was confiscated by Antara.

He responded to the news that Lebak Regent Octavia Jayabaya, who asked residents in Maja District, Lebak, Banten, to carry out the 2022 Christmas service in the Rangkasbitung area. The request was because in Lebak there was no church.

Octavi's statement drew controversy because the Lebak Regency Government was deemed not to facilitate Christians to worship and celebrate Christmas 2022 easily.

Benny hopes that there will be further deliberation so that licensing to use other places for Christmas worship can be provided to make it easier for Christians in Maja worship.

The duties of regional heads, he said, provide guarantees and maintain religious harmony, including providing facilities so that religious people can carry out their worship.

"This has been explicitly regulated in the joint regulations of Articles 13 and 14 to 18. There is a temporary permit mechanism so that religious people do not experience difficulties, including safety and comfort in worship," he explained.

Meanwhile, Member of the Steering Committee of BPIP Amin Abdullah emphasized that every citizen, community, official, and state administrator must comply with the 1945 Constitution of the Republic of Indonesia, because freedom of religion and belief is guaranteed by law.

"Including freedom of expression and worship in accordance with the teachings of their respective religions and beliefs. Celebrating Christmas, building places of worship, celebrating other religious holidays and so on," said Amin.

The Deputy Chairperson of PP Muhammadiyah for the 2000-2005 period also said that majority religious followers need to protect and facilitate religious minorities.

"As for shophouse buildings and places of worship, such as churches, chapels, mosques, temples, synagog, monasteries, it is a follow-up problem," he added.

Instead, continued Amin, what needs to be considered and facilitated by religious communities and state administrators in general is how to help and find a way out for religious communities.

"Whatever religion he embraces to have a proper place of worship and be close to the community. I think the basic principle is," he said.