China to list legal places of worship, ‘root out’ illegal activities: state media
Names and addresses of 'Buddhist and Taoist' places of worship to be published by officials but no mention of Christianity or Islam
China is to publish online details of legal religious venues, the official Xinhua news agency reported yesterday, apparently in an effort to identify unsanctioned groups as part of an effort to "root out illegal religious activities".
Names and addresses for "all Buddhist and Taoist venues" would be published within two years, said Wang Zuoan, director of the State Administration for Religious Affairs.
Xinhua made no mention of other religions but quoted Wang as saying the information would help stop illegal religious activity in unauthorised locations.
The government's attitude toward religion has softened significantly in recent decades, and people are allowed to practice religion at various sanctioned institutions that are required to preach and practice loyalty to the government.
Despite the rules, unsanctioned religious movements, which the authorities call cults, have proliferated in recent years, and the government has grown increasingly active in trying to discourage their growth.
A court jailed 21 members of banned religious group Quannengshen and executed two this year after members were accused of murdering a woman.