PSI Holds Easter Celebration, Grace: Worship Does Not Require Crowd Permits
The government faces a policy dilemma with no truly comfortable solution.
PSI Board Chair Grace Natalie hopes that minority groups will no longer require crowd permits to hold worship services. She expressed this view in her speech at the Easter Celebration at Balai Sarbini, Jakarta.
“Balai Sarbini is utilised as a place of worship on Sundays. This illustrates how eager people are to worship, but they are not allowed or find it difficult to obtain permission, so they squeeze in at shophouses, malls, where every week they must obtain and renew crowd permits. We hope that in the future, crowd permits will not be needed for worship,” Grace stated, met with applause from Easter celebration participants.
Grace acknowledged that while society often views politics negatively, she believes this is not entirely accurate. Politics is an instrument for making public policy.
“I know politics is not something everyone wants to handle. It might seem scary and frightening, perhaps even with recent news giving us mixed reviews about politics. But who makes regional regulations? Who makes laws? Politicians in the legislature and executive,” she added.
Grace further noted that during the legislative elections, PSI opened opportunities and facilitated minority groups to participate in contests. Some of them were even elected.
The performance of these cadres, she continued, is continuously monitored, and some have succeeded in advocating for and passing regional regulations (Perda) on tolerance in their respective areas.
“After they become council members, they report their performance regularly. Then, in some places where PSI has a faction, I receive updates that they are advocating for and passing tolerance Perdas in their respective areas,” she said.
This DPP PSI Easter Celebration was also attended by DPP PSI General Chairman Kaesang Pangarep, Deputy General Chairman of DPP PSI and Deputy Minister of Population and Family Development/Deputy Head of BKKBN Isyana Bagoes Oka, DPP PSI General Treasurer Fenty Noverita, and other officials.