Legal Certainty in the Determination of Ownership Rights Over Land Assets of Catholic Church Legal Entities in Indonesia
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Land assets are a crucial prerequisite for the Catholic Church's ongoing apostolic mission in Indonesia. However, multiple interpretations, ambiguities, and inconsistencies in understanding the legal status of the Catholic Church as a legal entity create normative uncertainties in land registration and obstruct the granting of ownership rights. This study aims to analyze these legal issues, formulate relevant legal concepts, and develop arguments to ensure certainty of land rights. Employing normative juridical methods and a statutory approach, the research examined the 1960 Basic Agrarian Law (UUPA), land registration regulations, Staatsblad 1927, and Minister of ATR/KBPN Decree No. 21 of 2024. The findings reveal a lack of synchronization between the substantive recognition of the Catholic Church as a legal entity and administrative procedures, leading to inconsistent practices, potential discrimination, and legal uncertainty. The study recommends regulatory harmonization, standardization of land registration procedures for religious legal entities, and the development of national technical guidelines to strengthen legal certainty, justice, and non-discrimination in the management of church land assets.
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