The National Religious Affairs Administration is soliciting public views on the draft of the Regulations Governing the Sites of Religious Activities.
China’s State Administration of Religious Affairs (SARA) issued a notice on March 24, saying that people can give advice on the Regulations Governing the Sites of Religious Activities (Draft for Public Comment, hereinafter referred to as “Regulations” for short) before April 24. The law was said to standardize the management of religious activity sites according to the relevant provisions of the revised Regulations on Religious Affairs.
The Regulations include eight chapters and 76 articles.
Article 8 claims, "To establish a religious activity site, there should be a certain number of local religious believers who need to regularly attend collective religious activities; there also should be religious personnel who can host religious activities or other personnel who meet the requirements of the national religious organization regulations of this religion. There must be a legal source of income."
Article 16 says that religious activity venues must not be named after churches, sects, or personal names.
Article 17 reads, "The registration management organs shall review the name, management organization, rules, and regulations within 30 working days from the date of receipt of the application. And they can register those that meet the requirements and issue the Registration Certificate for Places of Religious Activities. Venues can only carry out religious activities after obtaining the certificate."
Article 24 adds, "Formed through democratic consultation, the management organization of a religious activity site shall be composed of religious personnel, representatives of local religious believers, and other relevant personnel. There should be three or more members in the management organization, with one principal person in charge. The establishment, punishment, and adjustment of members of management organizations for religious activity venues shall be reported to the registration and administration department for the record after soliciting the opinions of the local religious groups."
- Translated by Abigail Wu
