Paradigma Pengaturan Perkawinan Beda Agama di Indonesia: Analisis Komparatif Hukum Islam dan Hukum Kanonik

Abstract

Interfaith marriage remains a complex issue within Indonesia’s legal system, particularly because its regulation lies at the intersection of state law, religious norms, and the protection of constitutional rights. This study examines the regulation of interfaith marriage from the perspectives of Indonesian positive law, Islamic Law, and Canon Law, while also comparing the underlying approaches adopted by these three legal systems. The research employs a normative juridical method using statutory, conceptual, and comparative approaches. The legal materials examined include legislation, court decisions, legal doctrines, and relevant scholarly literature. The findings reveal regulatory tensions between the Marriage Law and the Population Administration Law, as reflected in differing judicial decisions concerning the registration of interfaith marriages. Meanwhile, Supreme Court Circular Letter No. 2 of 2023 provides judicial guidance aimed at promoting greater consistency in dealing with applications for the registration of marriages between persons of different religions and beliefs. From a comparative perspective, both Islamic Law and Canon Law regard marriage as an institution possessing a sacred dimension and closely related to the preservation of religious life. Nevertheless, the two systems adopt different regulatory mechanisms. Islamic Law places greater emphasis on the application of binding legal norms through a rule-based approach, whereas Canon Law allows institutional consideration through an institutional discretion approach, including through the mechanism of dispensation. Based on these findings, regulatory harmonization is necessary to strengthen legal certainty concerning interfaith marriage while continuing to respect the distinctive principles and characteristics of the respective religious legal systems.