Being Free
Living with freedom, we likely forget what it looks like. Read through China's updated policies to regulate religious organizations. There is no "Liberty of Conscience" or freedom to believe.
China's 41 regulations put the state as the ultimate authority over what religious organizations teach. Under penalty of law, they must actively support communism in their teaching. Pray for Christians to be bold and for their faith to spread. Read all 41 regulations (which went into effect February 1, 2020. Here is a sampling of the most egregious:
Article 2 The “religious organizations” as mentioned in the present Measures refer to non-profit social organizations that are voluntarily formed by religious citizens, for the purpose of unity in patriotism and in religious affiliation, to promote healthy development of religions, and carry out activities in accordance with their own charters. Religious organizations are the bridge and bond for the Chinese Communist Party and the people’s government to unite and to connect with the clergy and all the lay religious citizens.
Article 3 A religious organization can be recognized as such only when it has been examined and approved by the religious affairs department of the people ’s government, and register with the civil affairs department of the people ’s government, in accordance with the national regulations on the administration of social organizations, and on religious affairs. Without the approval of the religious affairs department of the people’s government, or registration with the civil affairs department of the people’s government, no religious activities in the name of religious organizations are allowed.
Article 5 Religious organizations must support the leadership of the Communist Party of China, abide by the Constitution, laws, regulations, rules and policies, adhere to the principles of self-support and self-governance, adhere to the direction of Sinicization of religions in China, embody the core values of socialism, and maintain national unity, ethnic unity , religious harmony and social stability.
Article 6 The religious affairs department of the people’s government is the administrative unit in charge of the professional undertakings of religious organizations. Religious organizations shall accept professional guidance and supervision by the religious affairs department of the people’s government.
Article 17 Religious organizations should publicize the guidelines and policies of the Communist Party of China, national laws, regulations, and rules to the clergy and religious citizens, in order to instruct and direct the clergy and religious citizens to support the rule of the Communist Party of China, support the socialist system, follow the path of socialism with Chinese characteristics, abide by the laws, regulations, rules and policies, correctly treat the relationship between state laws and religious rules, and strengthen their national consciousness, consciousness of rule by law, and consciousness of one’s duty as a citizen.
Article 18 Religious organizations should connect with and serve the clergy and religious citizens, report the opinions and reasonable demands of the religious population, safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of the clergy and religious citizens, and direct them to fulfill their civic obligations.
Article 22 Religious organizations should conduct researches on religious cultures and religious classics, carry out the construction of religious ideology, and dig deep into doctrines and canons for useful content for maintaining social harmony, advancing with the times, and being healthy and cultured. They should provide interpretations for doctrines and canons that meet the requirements of the development and progress of modern China, and in accordance with the glorious traditional Chinese culture.
Article 23 Religious organizations should ordain their clergy in accordance with the procedures of ordination stipulated in the rules created by the national religious organizations and register their names with the religious affairs department of the people’s government. Religious organizations should reinforce education for the clergy about rule by law, politics, culture, and religion, in order to improve their comprehensive capacity. Religious organizations should put emphasis on religious ethics, improve the reward-and-punishment mechanism and the rules for initiation and removal. Clergy who violate laws, regulations, rules, and the charters of the religious organization must be punished accordingly.
Article 26 Religious organization should report the following matters to the administrative unit for review and approval: (1) matters that should be reviewed by the administrative unit as stipulated by laws and regulations; (2) personnel change of the president (chair, director), vice president (vice chair, deputy director), secretary-general (assistant director-general), structural change of an office, personnel change of the head of the office, and naming a honorary president (chair, director); (3) holding important meetings, activities, trainings and international communications; (4) activities that name the religious affairs department of the people’s government as the supporting unit or sponsor; (5) receiving donations of religious books or audio/visual products, or donations over 100,000 yuan from overseas organizations or individuals; (6) other matters that should be reported to the administrative unit for review.
Article 37 In the case of religious organizations that have a problematic administration or fail to perform duties in accordance with their own charter, the religious affairs department of the people’s government should speak to its president (chair, director). The latter will be publicly criticized and given a deadline for rectification, etc., if there are gross misconducts.
Article 39 The State Administration for Religious Affairs alone is authorized to interpret these Measures.
Article 41 These Measures will take effect February 1, 2020.
Article 2 The “religious organizations” as mentioned in the present Measures refer to non-profit social organizations that are voluntarily formed by religious citizens, for the purpose of unity in patriotism and in religious affiliation, to promote healthy development of religions, and carry out activities in accordance with their own charters. Religious organizations are the bridge and bond for the Chinese Communist Party and the people’s government to unite and to connect with the clergy and all the lay religious citizens.
Article 3 A religious organization can be recognized as such only when it has been examined and approved by the religious affairs department of the people ’s government, and register with the civil affairs department of the people ’s government, in accordance with the national regulations on the administration of social organizations, and on religious affairs. Without the approval of the religious affairs department of the people’s government, or registration with the civil affairs department of the people’s government, no religious activities in the name of religious organizations are allowed.
Article 5 Religious organizations must support the leadership of the Communist Party of China, abide by the Constitution, laws, regulations, rules and policies, adhere to the principles of self-support and self-governance, adhere to the direction of Sinicization of religions in China, embody the core values of socialism, and maintain national unity, ethnic unity , religious harmony and social stability.
Article 6 The religious affairs department of the people’s government is the administrative unit in charge of the professional undertakings of religious organizations. Religious organizations shall accept professional guidance and supervision by the religious affairs department of the people’s government.
Article 17 Religious organizations should publicize the guidelines and policies of the Communist Party of China, national laws, regulations, and rules to the clergy and religious citizens, in order to instruct and direct the clergy and religious citizens to support the rule of the Communist Party of China, support the socialist system, follow the path of socialism with Chinese characteristics, abide by the laws, regulations, rules and policies, correctly treat the relationship between state laws and religious rules, and strengthen their national consciousness, consciousness of rule by law, and consciousness of one’s duty as a citizen.
Article 18 Religious organizations should connect with and serve the clergy and religious citizens, report the opinions and reasonable demands of the religious population, safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of the clergy and religious citizens, and direct them to fulfill their civic obligations.
Article 22 Religious organizations should conduct researches on religious cultures and religious classics, carry out the construction of religious ideology, and dig deep into doctrines and canons for useful content for maintaining social harmony, advancing with the times, and being healthy and cultured. They should provide interpretations for doctrines and canons that meet the requirements of the development and progress of modern China, and in accordance with the glorious traditional Chinese culture.
Article 23 Religious organizations should ordain their clergy in accordance with the procedures of ordination stipulated in the rules created by the national religious organizations and register their names with the religious affairs department of the people’s government. Religious organizations should reinforce education for the clergy about rule by law, politics, culture, and religion, in order to improve their comprehensive capacity. Religious organizations should put emphasis on religious ethics, improve the reward-and-punishment mechanism and the rules for initiation and removal. Clergy who violate laws, regulations, rules, and the charters of the religious organization must be punished accordingly.
Article 26 Religious organization should report the following matters to the administrative unit for review and approval: (1) matters that should be reviewed by the administrative unit as stipulated by laws and regulations; (2) personnel change of the president (chair, director), vice president (vice chair, deputy director), secretary-general (assistant director-general), structural change of an office, personnel change of the head of the office, and naming a honorary president (chair, director); (3) holding important meetings, activities, trainings and international communications; (4) activities that name the religious affairs department of the people’s government as the supporting unit or sponsor; (5) receiving donations of religious books or audio/visual products, or donations over 100,000 yuan from overseas organizations or individuals; (6) other matters that should be reported to the administrative unit for review.
Article 37 In the case of religious organizations that have a problematic administration or fail to perform duties in accordance with their own charter, the religious affairs department of the people’s government should speak to its president (chair, director). The latter will be publicly criticized and given a deadline for rectification, etc., if there are gross misconducts.
Article 39 The State Administration for Religious Affairs alone is authorized to interpret these Measures.
Article 41 These Measures will take effect February 1, 2020.
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