Catholic Chapel Closed in Indonesia While Pressure Mounts to Stop Such Closures

31 August 2005

In the latest in a string of forcible church closures in West Java, Indonesia, a Roman Catholic chapel was forced to close by a mob of around 200 Islamic militants on August 27. According to an August 29 report from Asia News, Father Iwan Pr had just completed the Saturday mass in the village of Margahayu when the mob approached him and ordered him to close the church and stop all services. To prevent harm to the gathered congregation, Father Iwan complied. After the mob left, authorities arrived to apologize for the incident, but did nothing more.

^{Indonesian Vice-President Yusuf Kalla}

Pressure is mounting on the authorities to do something about the situation. More than thirty-five churches have been shut down by militant groups in the past month. On July 29, Indonesian vice-president Yusuf Kalla called for the immediate end to these attacks against churches West Java. Speaking to a gathering of Muslim leaders, he said that Muslim leaders must keep their followers under control and that police must take firm action against such violence. Some moderate Muslim leaders have joined with him in calling for an end to these incidents.

Pray that Christians in West Java will be free to worship in peace and without fear of violence from Islamic groups. Pray that the authorities will take decisive action to stop further closures and that those churches which have been closed will be able to reopen.

For more information on the difficulties facing Christians in Indonesia, click here. Go to https://www.vomcanada.com/ to view a twenty-one minute report on the persecution in Indonesia entitled "Island Jihad."

Indonesia

Country Information
Population
279,476,346 (2023 est.)

Ethnicity (%)
Javanese (40.1), Sundanese (15.5), Malay (3.7), Balak (3.6), Madurese (3), Betawi (2.9), Minangkabau (2.7), Buginese (2.7), Bantenese (2), Other (23.8)

Religion (%)
Muslim (87.2), Christian (9.9), Hindu (1.7), Other (0.9), Unspecified (0.4)

Leader
President Joko Widodo (2014)

Government type
Presidential republic

Legal system
Civil law system based on the Roman-Dutch model and influenced by customary law

Sources: CIA World Factbook.
Pray for Indonesia
Pray for the continued growth of the church in Indonesia, despite the intense opposition and persecution that has taken place. May the destructive plans of the enemy to eradicate Christianity be frustrated and nullified.

Pray that whatever is intended for evil, God will turn around for good – causing such hatred and violence to not only discredit extremism, but to also compel many to seek salvation in Christ... including the perpetrators of persecution.

Indonesia News

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