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SCIO briefing on China's protection of the freedom of religious belief

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Speakers:
Chen Zongrong, former vice administrator of State Administration for Religious Affairs

Xiao Hong, former spokeswoman of State Administration for Religious Affairs

Chairperson:
Xi Yanchun, spokeswoman of the State Council Information Office

Date:
April 3, 2018

Phoenix Satellite Television:

My question is for Mr. Chen. We have noted the issue that for various reasons, there are some underground churches and family churches in China, and many analysts describe them as a gray elephant in Chinese religion. However, we actually haven't seen any related information in this white paper. We would like to ask about how the Chinese government considers this issue. Is there any related information? How will the issue be addressed in the future? Thanks.

Chen Zongrong:

I need to make one point clear here. There are neither underground churches nor family churches in China. My understanding is that, the family churches you spoke of refer to the venues for religious activities privately set up by the Christian churches. From this perspective, the number is not small indeed, because it is related to the characteristics of Christianity itself.

Regarding the venues for religious activities privately set up by the Christian churches, the measures we have taken is to use the influence of a church to guide a number of nearby venues for religious activities. In this way, we can provide effective religious services and religious guidance for the people who gather in these venues to live a religious life, and thus to meet their reasonable needs for religion.

Second, Article 35 of the Regulations on Religious Affairs amended this time has made one point clear over the question of: if presently there are no conditions for the establishment of venues for religious activities while religious believers have a need for a religious life? Here is the solution. Religious believers can select representatives who will apply to the religious affairs department of the people's government at the county level for the establishment of a temporary venue for religious activities, therefore to meet these religious believers' need for a venue to live a religious life.

The Regulations also make it clear that local religious groups, such as the China Christian Council and the National Committee of the Three-Self Patriotic Movement of the Protestant Churches in China, provide all possible services for religious believers who gather in the temporary venues for religious activities.