(UCAN): Seven state-sanctioned religious groups have issued a joint statement assuring that they will adhere to management of religions, including supervision of religious institutes, finances and properties, in line with Chinese Communist Party [CCP] guidelines on religious affairs.
The statement titled National Religious Organisations Common Initiative on Cultivating Frugality and Abstaining from Extravagance aims to implement the spirit of the CCP’s National Conference of Religious Affairs held last December, according to a June 9 report from the Bishops’ Conference of the Catholic Church in China (BCCCC).
The signatory groups—Chinese Buddhist Association, China Taoist Association, China Islamic Association, Chinese Catholic Patriotic Association, Chinese Catholic Bishops’ Conference, China Christian Three-Self Patriotic Movement Committee and China Christian Council—also vowed to remove barriers that hinder the Sinicisation of religion.
During the December 3 to 4 conference, the first since 2016, China’s president, Xi Jinping, called for the strict implementation of Marxist policies, increased online surveillance and tightening control of religion to ensure national security.
He also stressed the importance of better control of religions to ensure all groups abide by Chinese laws and regulations while rooting out social networks for religious proselytisation or criticism of the government’s religious policy.
The statement noted that though religious circles across China have adhered to make great efforts over the strict management of religions, an “unhealthy trend for greed and extravagance” has tarnished the social image of religions and eroded the “foundation of religious inheritance.”
It said, “We need to thoroughly implement the spirit of the National Conference of Religious Affairs and great speech of CCP general secretary Xi Jinping to effectively ‘curb and reverse’ the bad atmosphere pertaining to religions.”
The groups agreed to implement a four-point agenda—practice frugality and thrift, environmental protection, strict adherence to regulations on religious affairs by religious groups and clergy, and to maintain Chinese characteristics, belief connotation and cultural forms of religious institutes and architecture.
The statement also underlined “a self-examination and moral revolution” for adherents of all religions in China by following public order and good customs to serve society and the state.
China recognises the legal presence of five religions—Buddhism, Taoism, Islam, Catholicism and Protestantism.
The 2018 regulations on religious affairs require all religious groups and clergy to be registered with the state and make any religious activity without state permission illegal and a punishable offense.
