China’s Period of quiet tolerance of religion is coming to an end! Only licensed domestic religious groups would be permitted.
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Illegal promotional materials
Just a day after the government banned Zion Church, one of the largest unofficial Protestant churches in Beijing, confiscating “illegal promotional materials,” the National Religious Affairs Administration released a draft of regulations that prohibit all foreigners from preaching online.
A draft of regulations
© Image | SCMP
Even domestic groups distributing religious information online would have to have a license from provincial religious affairs departments.
Licensed groups would be able “preach and offer religious training” but not live-stream or broadcast religious activities.
In addition, all foreign groups and individuals would be banned from disseminating religious content online.
Sinicization
The release of the rules also comes eight months after administration director Wang Zuoan called for higher legal standards for religious work and further “Sinicization” of all religions in the country.
© Image | SCMP
China is also cracking down on the sale of Bibles online and on “underground churches.”
Complete the regulatory system for religion
Wang said in January that more regulations on temporary venues for religious events, approvals of religious academies and the hiring of foreign personnel for religious teaching were in the pipeline to help Beijing “complete” the regulatory system for religion.
© Image | SCMP
The moves coincide with a statement published in a Communist Party journal by Beijing’s most senior official for religion that said “foreign forces” cannot control religious institutions in China.
Public consultations on the rules end on October 9. If you want to promote religious culture in China, you have to abide by Chinese regulations, and promote legally!
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Source | WND/Yahoos News/SCMP
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