Catholic church construction begins in West Kalimantan, Indonesia

Construction has officially commenced for the Saints Peter and Paul Church in Kapur village, located in Indonesia’s West Kalimantan province. The groundbreaking ceremony, held on August 6, followed a period of significant controversy when local neighborhood associations opposed the issuance of building permits.

Sujiwo, the Muslim regent of the Kubu Raya district, played a central role in resolving the dispute. He attended the ceremony to lay the first stone, stating that his support for the project is rooted in his duty to uphold religious freedom as guaranteed by the 1945 Indonesian constitution. Sujiwo characterized the previous objections as a result of miscommunication and emphasized that blocking religious construction violates constitutional rights.

The new church is designed to accommodate approximately 1,200 people. Local Catholic leaders expressed gratitude for the regent’s non-discriminatory approach to supporting all houses of worship.