Crackdown on religious profiteers
Enterprises to be barred from running religious sites
A travel agency sells tickets into the famous Shaolin temple's scenic area
- China
- October 24, 2012
A group of 10 government bodies including the State Administration for Religious Affairs have warned against profiteering from religious activities.
A joint statement issued on October 22, quoted by the official Xinhua News Agency, said that some local governments, enterprises and individuals have made religion a commercial instrument by building new places of worship specifically for profit, hiring fake monks or clergy to conduct religious services and collect endowments, as well as tricking or forcing visitors to part with their money.
Such practices have harmed the credibility and image of the legitimate religious community and its activities, hurt the feelings of believers and violated the rights of other visitors, the statement said.
Local governments are to disallow commercial enterprises or individuals from investing in religious sites or running them as contract operations, the statement continued. Local bodies must also ensure that all clergy are qualified by the relevant religious organizations and registered with religious affairs bureaux, at county level or above.
Shi Yongxin, abbot of the famous Shaolin Temple in Henan province, told the China News Agency that he welcomed the move, as it provides a basis for preventing temples from being run by contractors or listed on the stock market.
Currently a Hong Kong-based travel company sells admission tickets for the Shaolin scenic area and profits from the proceeds, a practice which has been criticized. Shi said he will strive to make admission to his temple, as well as all Buddhist temples nationwide, free of charge.
The vice-chair of the Buddhist Association of China emphasized that the main function of Shaolin is to promote religious activity, propagate Buddhist culture and satisfy the faith needs of believers.
A joint statement issued on October 22, quoted by the official Xinhua News Agency, said that some local governments, enterprises and individuals have made religion a commercial instrument by building new places of worship specifically for profit, hiring fake monks or clergy to conduct religious services and collect endowments, as well as tricking or forcing visitors to part with their money.
Such practices have harmed the credibility and image of the legitimate religious community and its activities, hurt the feelings of believers and violated the rights of other visitors, the statement said.
Local governments are to disallow commercial enterprises or individuals from investing in religious sites or running them as contract operations, the statement continued. Local bodies must also ensure that all clergy are qualified by the relevant religious organizations and registered with religious affairs bureaux, at county level or above.
Shi Yongxin, abbot of the famous Shaolin Temple in Henan province, told the China News Agency that he welcomed the move, as it provides a basis for preventing temples from being run by contractors or listed on the stock market.
Currently a Hong Kong-based travel company sells admission tickets for the Shaolin scenic area and profits from the proceeds, a practice which has been criticized. Shi said he will strive to make admission to his temple, as well as all Buddhist temples nationwide, free of charge.
The vice-chair of the Buddhist Association of China emphasized that the main function of Shaolin is to promote religious activity, propagate Buddhist culture and satisfy the faith needs of believers.
