'Religion' added to Constitution of the Peoples Republic of China

There has been a mixed reaction to the insertion of the word "religion" in the Constitution of the Peoples Republic of China. Does it indicate a growing acceptance of Religious freedom or is it another sign of an effort to exercise State control?

HONG KONG (CNS) - Some church leaders praised the inclusion of the word "religion" in the Communist Party's constitution as a small step forward, but a recent commentary in a Hong Kong daily identified the Vatican as a "foreign force" meddling in the affairs of Hong Kong and Macau.

The 17th National Congress of the Communist Party of China in Beijing in mid-October has been called a breakthrough for religion in China, reported the Asian church news agency UCA News.

The latest revision to the party constitution uses the word "religion" for the first time since the constitution was drafted in 1921.

The 19th paragraph of the constitution's General Program now includes this sentence: "The party strives to fully implement its basic principle for its work related to religious affairs and rallies religious believers in making contributions to economic and social development."

The paragraph originally contained only calls for communists' promotion of relations with ethnic minorities based on equality, solidarity, mutual harmony, training of cadres from these groups, and empowering these groups to work for prosperity and development.

Explaining the insertion of "religion," Ye Xiaowen, head of the State Administration of Religious Affairs, said it shows the party is "sincere and capable of its implementation of policies on the freedom of religious beliefs."

In his congress report, Chinese President Hu Jintao, general secretary of the party, noted its resolve to fully implement its guiding principles for work related to religious affairs and to utilize the positive role of religious leaders and the faithful in promoting economic and social development.

A Chinese Catholic bishop registered with the government told UCA News that Hu's report shows the party's religious policy will be "consistent, without much change."

But the bishop, who asked that his name not be used, said he sees a positive change from the government's former stance of considering religion a source of social instability, although the party managed the religious sector in accordance with laws.

The party is "urging believers to contribute to the country's development," he said.

Kwun Ping-hung, a Hong Kong-based observer of the church in China, told UCA News, "Though brief, some concern is better than none. In this sense, it is deemed positive."

Hu's report also warns against "attempts by any external force to interfere" in the affairs of Hong Kong and Macau.

In an Oct. 24 commentary in Wen Wei Po, a pro-Beijing daily in Hong Kong, Li Minli described the Vatican as the third "foreign force" -- after the United States and Great Britain -- and cited "Taiwan independence" advocates as an "external force" in Hong Kong.

Such forces interfere through spokesmen or in the form of think tanks, foundations, research institutes, consultancies and companies with U.S. or U.K. funds, Li said.

A researcher in mainland China, who requested anonymity, told UCA News the Communist Party is concerned that the Vatican would join other countries in opposing China.

He sees the insertion of "religion" in the constitution as implying more control.

Among China's 1.3 billion people, around 73 million are Communist Party members.

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Copyright (c) 2007 Catholic News Service/U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops