Not all have faith in new wording on religion
The annual session of the CPPCC concluded yesterday with the adoption of 'freedom of belief' as part of a revision to its charter.
But religious sources were quick to point out that the change did not signal a greater tolerance of religious freedom by the nation's top political consultative body.
The amendment to Article 14 brings in the concept of 'freedom of belief'.
It also says the conference should 'support the government in running religious affairs according to law, insist on the principles of independence and self-government and constructively make religion and socialist society adapt to each other'.
The revision is the fifth in 50 years.
Reacting to the revision, one scholar on religion said: 'The freedom of belief is not the same as the freedom of religious practice. There is no loosening at all.'
The Communist Party and the government have always recognised that the law could not be extended to regulating a 'belief', but it has kept a tight rein on the practice of religion, prohibiting religious assembly and proselytising without government approval.
The revision reflected the current thinking of 'making religion and socialism adapt to each other' under the guidance of the government and it dressed the old restrictions in new clothes, the scholar said.
Ye Xiaowen, director of the Religious Affairs Bureau, is a delegate to the conference.
Speaking at the closing session, Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference chairman Jia Qinglin reiterated it supported constitutional amendments and pledged to uphold 'one country, two systems' in Hong Kong and Macau and to strive for reunification with Taiwan on the same principle.
