‘Religions in China should serve Communist Party’
BEIJING : Religions should be guided to support the leadership of the Communist Party of China and be subordinate to the interests of the nation, a new government document said on Tuesday, in line with the trend to “sinicise” religions and shake off foreign influence as propagated by President Xi Jinping.
Releasing the document on Tuesday, a top official spoke about the need for religions to adapt to a socialist society and to develop religions in the Chinese context.
The white paper, titled “China’s Policies and Practices on Protecting Freedom of Religious Belief”, was clear on what it wants from the country’s 200 million believers – a number that will dismissed by independent experts as below the mark.
“Actively guiding religions in adapting to the socialist society… means guiding religious believers to love their country… (and to be) be subordinate to and serve the overall interests of the nation and the Chinese people,” the document said.
“It also means guiding religious groups to support the leadership of the CPC and the socialist system; uphold and follow the part of socialism with Chinese characteristics; develop religions in the Chinese context; embrace core socialist values,” it added.
The document was released after the State Administration for Religious Affairs was merged into CPC’s United Front Work Department, in-charge of the party’s relations with non-party entities, last month.
China officially recognises five religions - Buddhism, Catholicism, Protestantism, Taoism and Islam. The country’s Constitution guarantees – as reiterated in the white paper – religious freedom, which is protected by law, but there is no freedom to practice religion.