Legal Status and Governance of the Roman Catholic Church in Indonesia: A Perspective on Legislation and Implementation

The Roman Catholic Church in Indonesia has played a significant role in the nation's history and social development. However, the legal status and governance of its religious bodies remain complex issues. This study aims to analyze the legality and governance of the Roman Catholic Church’s religious bodies in Indonesia, focusing on their legal recognition and the process of asset management, including its legal validity. The findings indicate that, while the Roman Catholic Church in Indonesia possesses a clear legal status recognized by the government, several challenges persist in the implementation of its governance. This research recommends enhancing transparency and accountability in the management of religious assets and activities, developing human resources, fostering greater cooperation with the government and other institutions, and improving religious infrastructure. The primary regulations examined are the Regulation of the Minister of Religious Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia Number 13 of 2025 concerning Catholic Religious Legal Entities and the Decree of the Director General of Catholic Community Guidance of the Ministry of Religious Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia Number 23 of 2024 concerning the Governance of Religious Bodies of the Roman Catholic Church in Indonesia.