ICC Note:
China’s State Administration of Religious Affairs (SARA) is planning to release new regulations on religious institutions. A government official stated that religious work in China “must be [involved with] politics, must be politically clearheaded, must be strict in discipline and must dare to be responsible.” The regulations will be voted on at an undisclosed time before they are passed. Many think the new regulations will tighten Beijing’s grip on religion within China. China has been implementing a massive crackdown on churches that are not part of the state-run church known as the Three-Self Patriotic Movement.
1/17/2017 China (UCA News) – A top Chinese official has disclosed that the newly amended religious affairs regulations will be released imminently and the State Administration of Religious Affairs (SARA) plans to focus on enforcement.
The national meeting for religious directors across China was held in Beijing on Jan. 9-10, during which SARA’s director Wang Zuoan delivered the remarks while setting out his plan for the year ahead.
According to Hong Kong’s pro-Beijing daily, Wenweipo, Wang reported that the newly amended Regulations on Religious Affairs would be released after receiving approval from the State Council’s executive meeting which will be held on date yet made public.
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