Thousands of Catholics attended a Mass in Indonesia's East Nusa Tenggara province to urge authorities not to allow a local beach, which many consider an area of outstanding beauty, to be developed.
The 31 May Mass was staged to oppose plans by an investment company to build hotels on a 4.2-hectare area of Pede Beach near Labuan Bajo in West Manggarai district, reported Asian Catholic news agency UCAN.
The local government, seeking to promote tourism, recently granted the firm permission to develop the area.
"People want to feel God’s love and attention on Pede Beach, so protect this beach," Bishop Hubertus Leteng of Ruteng said in his homily during the Mass attended by at least 2,000.
"Pede Beach is a green space for all people from different backgrounds. It isn’t only for the rich. So let's save this beach for the sake of harmony," he said.
The bishop said he wanted priests serving in all the parishes in the district to call on Catholics to visit the green space and enjoy its beauty.
Bishop Leteng promised to continue staging protests against the development plans. "I'm ready to lead [protests] any time," he said.
Catholics make up less than 3 per cent of the total population of Indonesia, which is a majority Muslim country.
Loading ...
