政府报告白皮书：《中国保障宗教信仰自由的政策和实践》

　　二、宗教信仰自由权利的法律保障

　　II. Legal Guarantees for Freedom of Religious Belief

　　中国特色社会主义法律体系不断完善，宗教信仰自由权利保障的法治化水平不断提高，政府对宗教事务的管理更加规范，对广大信教公民合法权益的保护更加全面有力。

　　The socialist legal system with Chinese characteristics is continuously being improved, with enhanced implementation of the rule of law in protecting freedom of religious belief and increasingly standardized governance of religious affairs, providing stronger guarantees for the lawful rights and interests of its religious believers.

　　宗教信仰自由权利受中国宪法保障。《中华人民共和国宪法》第三十六条规定：“中华人民共和国公民有宗教信仰自由。”同时规定：“国家保护正常的宗教活动。”“任何国家机关、社会团体和个人不得强制公民信仰宗教或者不信仰宗教，不得歧视信仰宗教的公民和不信仰宗教的公民。”“任何人不得利用宗教进行破坏社会秩序、损害公民身体健康、妨碍国家教育制度的活动。”“宗教团体和宗教事务不受外国势力的支配。”这些规定为国家保障宗教信仰自由权利、依法管理宗教事务、构建积极健康的宗教关系提供了宪法依据。

　　Freedom of religious belief is protected by the Constitution. According to Article 36 of the Constitution of the People’s Republic of China, “Citizens of the People’s Republic of China enjoy freedom of religious belief. No State organ, public organization or individual may compel citizens to believe in, or not to believe in, any religion; nor may they discriminate against citizens who believe in, or do not believe in, any religion.” Article 36 also stipulates that “No one may make use of religion to engage in activities that disrupt public order, impair the health of citizens or interfere with the educational system of the State,” and that “Religious bodies and religious affairs are not subject to any foreign control.” These stipulations serve as the constitutional basis for the State in protecting citizens’ freedom of religious belief, administering religious affairs in accordance with the law, and building positive relations with and among religions.

　　宗教信仰自由权利保障体现于基本法律之中。《中华人民共和国刑法》《中华人民共和国国家安全法》《中华人民共和国反恐怖主义法》等法律均有保护公民宗教信仰自由的相关规定。《中华人民共和国全国人民代表大会和地方各级人民代表大会选举法》《中华人民共和国人民法院组织法》《中华人民共和国人民检察院组织法》《中华人民共和国城市居民委员会组织法》《中华人民共和国村民委员会组织法》《中华人民共和国刑事诉讼法》《中华人民共和国教育法》《中华人民共和国劳动法》《中华人民共和国就业促进法》《中华人民共和国工会法》等法律贯彻平等保护原则，规定公民在各级人民代表大会和基层群众性自治组织中的选举权和被选举权、法律适用上的平等权、受教育权、平等就业权和自主择业权、依法参加和组织工会的权利等不因宗教信仰而有区别，不因宗教信仰而受歧视。《中华人民共和国民族区域自治法》规定，民族自治地方的自治机关保障各民族公民有宗教信仰自由。《中华人民共和国未成年人保护法》规定，未成年人不分宗教信仰，依法平等享有生存权、发展权、受保护权、参与权、受教育权等权利。《中华人民共和国广告法》规定，广告不得含有宗教歧视的内容。《中华人民共和国刑法》规定，国家机关工作人员非法剥夺公民的宗教信仰自由，情节严重的，追究刑事责任。《中华人民共和国民法总则》规定，依法设立的宗教活动场所，具备法人条件的，可以申请法人登记，取得捐助法人资格。

　　Freedom of religious belief is protected by basic laws. China’s Criminal Law, National Security Law, and Counter-Terrorism Law provide for the protection of citizens’ freedom of religious belief. The principle of equal protection for all Chinese citizens is enshrined in the Election Law of the National People’s Congress and Local People’s Congresses, Organic Law of the People’s Courts, Organic Law of the People’s Procuratorates, Organic Law of the Urban Residents Committees, Organic Law of the Villagers Committees, Criminal Procedure Law, Education Law, Labor Law, Employment Promotion Law, and Trade Union Law. These laws stipulate that all citizens enjoy equal rights to vote and stand for election to people’s congresses at all levels and to community-level self-government organizations, the right to equality before the law, the right to education, the right to work and to free choice of employment, and the right to join or organize trade unions in accordance with the law, irrespective of religious belief. The Law on Regional Ethnic Autonomy states that organs of self-government in ethnic autonomous areas shall guarantee citizens of all ethnic groups the freedom of religious belief. According to the Law on the Protection of Minors, minors enjoy equal rights to life, development, protection, participation and education in accordance with the law, irrespective of their religious belief. The Advertisement Law prohibits any advertisements that contain any information that discriminates against religions. The Criminal Law stipulates that workers of State organs involved in serious cases, which illegally deprive citizens of their right to freedom of religious belief, shall be investigated for criminal responsibility. The General Provisions of the Civil Law states that a lawfully established place of worship qualifying as a legal person may register for the status of legal person to accept donations.

　　宗教事务行政法规更加完善。2017年修订公布的《宗教事务条例》，强化了对公民宗教信仰自由和宗教界合法权益的保障，依法规范政府管理宗教事务的行为，增加了维护国家安全和社会和谐的内容。条例规定了宗教团体、宗教活动场所和信教公民在设立宗教活动场所、举行宗教活动、开办宗教院校、申请法人资格、出版发行宗教书刊、接受宗教捐献、管理宗教财产、开展公益慈善和对外交流活动等方面的权利和义务。条例明确了遏制宗教商业化，增加了关于互联网宗教信息服务的内容，同时规定，各级地方人民政府应当为宗教团体、宗教院校和宗教活动场所提供公共服务;各级地方人民政府应当将宗教活动场所建设纳入土地利用总体规划和城乡规划;任何组织或者个人不得在信教公民与不信教公民之间制造矛盾与冲突;出版物、互联网不得发布歧视信教公民或不信教公民的言论。

　　Administrative regulations regarding religious affairs are improving. The revised Regulations on Religious Affairs released in September 2017 strengthen the protection of Chinese citizens’ freedom of religious belief and the lawful rights and interests of religious groups, bring government’s management of religious affairs under due procedures in accordance with the law, and add provisions on safeguarding national security and maintaining social harmony. The Regulations prescribe the rights and responsibilities of religious organizations, places of worship, and religious believers when establishing places for and holding religious activities, setting up and running religious institutions, applying for legal person status, publishing and distributing religious books and periodicals, receiving donations, managing religious property, conducting charity activities, and carrying out exchanges with other countries. The Regulations prohibit the commercialization of religions, and include additions concerning religious information services on the Internet. In addition, the Regulations also require local governments to provide public services to religious organizations, religious institutions, and places of worship, and incorporate such sites into the overall local plans for land use and urban and rural planning. The Regulations forbid any organization or individual from creating disputes and conflicts between believers and non-believers and prohibit print publications and the Internet from disseminating information which discriminates against religious or non-religious citizens.

　　外国人在中国境内的宗教活动依法受到保护。《中华人民共和国境内外国人宗教活动管理规定》强调，中国政府尊重在中国境内外国人的宗教信仰自由，保护外国人在宗教方面同中国宗教界的友好交往和文化学术交流活动。境内外国人可以在寺庙、宫观、清真寺、教堂等宗教活动场所参加宗教活动，经省、自治区、直辖市以上的宗教团体邀请可以在宗教活动场所讲经、讲道，可以在县级以上人民政府宗教事务部门认可的场所举行外国人参加的宗教活动，可以邀请中国宗教教职人员为其举行洗礼、婚礼、葬礼和道场法会等宗教仪式，可以携带符合规定的宗教印刷品、宗教音像制品和其他宗教用品入境。同时规定，外国人在中国境内进行宗教活动，应当遵守中国法律、法规。外国人和外国组织不得在中国境内成立宗教组织、设立宗教办事机构和宗教活动场所、开办宗教院校、擅自招收留学生，不准在中国公民中发展教徒、委任宗教教职人员或进行其他传教活动。《中华人民共和国境外非政府组织境内活动管理法》规定，境外非政府组织在中国境内不得非法从事或者资助宗教活动。

　　The religious activities of foreigners in China are protected in accordance with the law. The Rules on the Administration of Religious Activities of Foreigners in the People’s Republic of China highlights China’s respect for the freedom of religious belief of foreigners within the territory of the People’s Republic of China, and its commitment to protecting the friendly relations, and cultural and academic exchanges with regards to religion between foreigners and Chinese religious groups. Foreigners may attend religious activities at temples, mosques, churches, and other sites for religious activities. They are also permitted to preach at places of worship when invited to do so by Chinese religious bodies at or above the provincial level. Foreigners may hold religious activities attended by foreigners at sites approved by government religious affairs departments at or above the county level. They may invite Chinese clerical personnel to perform baptisms, weddings, funerals, prayers, or other religious services. They are allowed to carry religious printed text, audio-video products, and other religious articles that conform to relevant regulations when entering Chinese territory. Foreigners who conduct religious activities within China shall abide by Chinese laws and regulations. They shall not establish religious organizations, set up religious offices and sites for religious activities, run religious institutions, or recruit foreign students studying in China without authorization; nor shall they recruit followers, appoint clerical personnel from among Chinese citizens or engage in other missionary activities. The Law of the People’s Republic of China on the Administration of Activities of Overseas Non-Governmental Organizations Within China prohibits overseas NGOs from illegally engaging in or sponsoring religious activities.

　　依法打击宗教极端势力和暴力恐怖活动。《中华人民共和国反恐怖主义法》规定，国家反对一切形式的以歪曲宗教教义或者其他方法煽动仇恨、煽动歧视、鼓吹暴力等极端主义，禁止任何基于地域、民族、宗教等理由的歧视性做法。《宗教事务条例》规定，不得宣扬、支持、资助宗教极端主义，不得利用宗教破坏民族团结、分裂国家和进行恐怖活动。国家采取措施遏制宗教极端主义传播、蔓延，同时特别注意防止把暴力恐怖活动、宗教极端主义与特定民族或特定宗教联系在一起。

　　Religious extremism and violent terrorist activities are dealt with in accordance with the law. The Counter-Terrorism Law of the People’s Republic of China states that China opposes all extremism that seeks to instigate hatred, incite discrimination and advocate violence by distorting religious doctrines or through other means, and forbids any discriminatory behavior on the grounds of region, ethnicity and religion. The Regulations on Religious Affairs prohibit any organization or individual from advocating, supporting or sponsoring religious extremism, or using religion to undermine ethnic unity, divide the country, or engage in terrorist activities. China takes measures against the propagation and spread of religious extremism, and at the same time, carefully avoids linking violent terrorism and religious extremism with any particular ethnic group or religion.

　　三、宗教活动有序开展

　　III. Conducting Religious Activities in an Orderly Manner

　　中国主要有佛教、道教、伊斯兰教、天主教和基督教等宗教，信教公民近2亿，宗教教职人员38万余人。佛教和道教信徒众多，但普通信徒没有严格的入教程序，人数难以精确统计。佛教教职人员约22.2万人。道教教职人员4万余人。10个多数人信仰伊斯兰教的少数民族总人口2000多万人，伊斯兰教教职人员5.7万余人。天主教信徒约600万人，宗教教职人员约0.8万人。基督教信徒3800多万人，宗教教职人员约5.7万人。中国还存在多种民间信仰，与当地传统文化和风俗习惯结合在一起，参与民间信仰活动的群众较多。中国的宗教团体约5500个，其中全国性宗教团体7个，分别为中国佛教协会、中国道教协会、中国伊斯兰教协会、中国天主教爱国会、中国天主教主教团、中国基督教三自爱国运动委员会、中国基督教协会。

　　The major religions practiced in China are Buddhism, Taoism, Islam, Catholicism, and Protestantism; with a total of nearly 200 million believers and more than 380,000 clerical personnel. China has numerous Buddhist and Taoist believers, but it is difficult to accurately estimate their numbers as there are no set registration procedures which ordinary believers must follow as part of their religion. There are around 222,000 Buddhist clerical personnel and over 40,000 Taoist clerical personnel. The 10 minority ethnic groups, the majority of whose population believe in Islam, total more than 20 million, with about 57,000 clerical personnel. Catholicism and Protestantism have 6 million and 38 million followers in China respectively, with 8,000 and 57,000 clerical personnel. China also has many folk beliefs which are closely linked to local cultures, traditions and customs, in which a large number of people participate. There are approximately 5,500 religious groups in China, including seven national organizations which are Buddhist Association of China, Chinese Taoist Association, China Islamic Association, Chinese Catholic Patriotic Association, Bishops’ Conference of Catholic Church in China, National Committee of the Three-Self Patriotic Movement of the Protestant Churches in China, and China Christian Council.

　　宗教活动场所条件明显改善。国家依法对信教公民开展集体宗教活动的场所进行登记，将其纳入法律保护范围，确保宗教活动规范有序进行。目前依法登记的宗教活动场所14.4万处。佛教寺院约3.35万座，其中汉传佛教2.8万余座，藏传佛教3800余座，南传佛教1700余座。道教宫观9000余座。伊斯兰教清真寺3.5万余处。天主教教区98个，教堂和活动堂点6000余处。基督教教堂和聚会点约6万处。宗教团体、宗教活动场所执行国家统一的税收制度，按照国家有关规定缴纳税收和享受税收优惠;水、电、气、暖、道路、通讯，以及广播电视、医疗卫生等公共服务延伸和覆盖到宗教活动场所。

　　Conditions of places of worship have been notably improved. The State requires the registration of places of worship for group religious activities in accordance with the law, so as to provide legal protection and ensure that all activities are carried out in an orderly manner. At present, there are about 144,000 places of worship registered for religious activities in China, among which are 33,500 Buddhist temples (including 28,000 Han Buddhist temples, 3,800 Tibetan Buddhist lamaseries, and 1,700 Theravada Buddhist temples), 9,000 Taoist temples, 35,000 Islamic mosques, 6,000 Catholic churches and places of assembly spread across 98 dioceses, and 60,000 Protestant churches and places of assembly. Religious groups and places of worship follow the unified tax regulations of the State, pay taxes and enjoy tax breaks accordingly. The government ensures that places of worship have access to public services such as running water, electricity, gas, heating, roads, communications, broadcast facilities, televisions, and medical services.

　　宗教典籍文献依法出版。多语种、多版本的宗教经典以及记载、阐释、注解宗教教义、教规的印刷品、音像制品和电子读物的印制出版流通，满足了各族信教公民的多样化需求。整理出版《大藏经》《中华道藏》《老子集成》等大型宗教古籍文献。西藏寺庙的传统印经院得到保留和发展，现有布达拉宫印经院等传统印经院60家，年印经卷6.3万种。已翻译出版发行汉、维吾尔、哈萨克、柯尔克孜等多种文字版的《古兰经》等伊斯兰教经典，编辑发行《新编卧尔兹演讲集》系列等读物和杂志，总量达176万余册。中国已为100多个国家和地区累计印刷超过100个语种、1.6亿多册《圣经》，其中为中国教会印刷约8000万册，包括汉语和11种少数民族文字以及盲文版。许多宗教团体和活动场所开设了网站，中国伊斯兰教协会开通中文版和维吾尔文版网站。

　　Religious texts and literature are published as prescribed by the law. The printing, publication and circulation of religious text, in different languages and editions, and printed works, audio-visual products and e-books that record, explain and/or annotate religious doctrines and canons, have met the diverse demands of citizens with religious beliefs from the various ethnic groups. Several large collections of religious classics, including the Chinese Buddhist Canon, the Chinese Taoist Canon and A Collection of Editions and Commentaries for the Laozi, have been compiled and published. Traditional sutra printing houses in Tibetan Buddhist temples have been well preserved and developed. There are now 60 such sutra printing houses, including the one in the Potala Palace, that can print 63,000 different sutras every year. Islamic classics, such as the Koran, have been translated and published in Chinese, Uygur, Kazakh, and Kyrgyz languages. The publication and circulation of the New Collection of Al-Wa’z Speeches series and other reading materials and magazines have exceeded 1.76 million copies. China has printed over 160 million copies of the Bible in more than 100 different languages for over 100 countries and regions, including 80 million copies printed in the Chinese language, 11 ethnic minority languages and braille for churches in China. A great many religious groups and places of worship have launched websites; and the Islamic Association of China has a website in both Chinese and Uygur languages.

　　宗教教育体系更加完善。截至2017年9月，经国家宗教事务局批准设立的宗教院校共91所，其中佛教41所，道教10所，伊斯兰教10所，天主教9所，基督教21所。全国性宗教院校6所，分别为中国佛学院、中国藏语系高级佛学院、中国道教学院、中国伊斯兰教经学院、中国天主教神哲学院、金陵协和神学院。宗教院校在校学生1万多人，历届毕业生累计4.7万余人。

　　The religious education system has been further improved. By September 2017, there are 91 religious schools in China whose establishment was approved by the State Administration of Religious Affairs (SARA), including 41 Buddhist, 10 Taoist, 10 Islamic, 9 Catholic and 21 Protestant schools. There are six national level religious colleges, namely, the Buddhist Academy of China, High-level Tibetan Buddhism College of China, Chinese Taoist College, China Islamic Institute, National Seminary of the Catholic Church in China, and Nanjing Union Theological Seminary. At present, more than 10,000 students study in these religious schools whose graduates total more than 47,000.

　　宗教教职人员社会保障更加有力。2010年有关部门联合发布《关于妥善解决宗教教职人员社会保障问题的意见》，2011年又联合发布《关于进一步解决宗教教职人员社会保障问题的通知》，将宗教教职人员纳入社会保障体系。截至2013年年底，宗教教职人员医疗保险参保率达到96.5%，养老保险参保率达到89.6%，符合条件的全部纳入低保，基本实现了社保体系全覆盖。

　　Social security for religious clerical personnel has been enhanced. The SARA and other relevant departments jointly issued the “Directives on Solving the Social Security Problem for Religious Clerical Personnel” in 2010, and again the “Notice of Further Solving the Social Security Problem for Religious Clerical Personnel” in 2011, which brought clerical personnel into the social security system. At the end of 2013, 96.5 percent of clerical personnel were covered by medical insurance, 89.6 percent by the old-age insurance, and all qualified personnel by subsistence allowance welfare. Almost all clerical personnel were covered by the social security system in China.

　　信教公民的宗教活动有序进行。公民在宗教活动场所内以及按照宗教习惯在自己家里进行的一切正常的宗教活动，如礼拜、封斋、拜佛、祈祷、讲经、讲道、诵经、烧香、弥撒、受洗、受戒、终傅、追思、过宗教节日等，受法律保护，任何组织和个人不得加以干涉。藏传佛教寺庙学经、辩经、受戒、灌顶、修行等传统宗教活动和寺庙学经考核晋升学位活动正常进行，每逢重大宗教节日都循例举行各种宗教活动。穆斯林在饮食、衣饰、年节、婚姻、丧葬等方面的风俗习惯得到充分尊重。中国伊斯兰教协会每年组织穆斯林赴沙特参加朝觐活动，从2007年起，每年人数均在1万人以上。

　　The religious activities of believers are being conducted in an orderly manner. All normal religious activities, including attending religious services, fasting, worshiping Buddha, praying, preaching, reciting scriptures, burning incense, attending Mass, being baptized or ordained, observing extreme unction, holding memorial ceremonies, and celebrating religious festivals, which believers conduct at places of worship or in their own homes in accordance with customary religious practices, are protected by law, and no organization or individual may infringe on these rights. Traditional Tibetan Buddhist activities such as scripture study and debate, initiation into monkhood or nunhood, abhisheka (empowerment ceremony) and self-cultivation, and tests and degree promotions in lamaseries are held on a regular basis, while ceremonial activities are also held during important religious festivals. Muslim customs regarding food and drink, clothing, festivals, marriages and funerals are fully respected. The Islamic Association of China organizes for Muslims to go on pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia every year, with the number of participants exceeding 10,000 a year since 2007.

　　扰乱宗教领域正常秩序的行为得到纠正。自2012年起，有关部门依据《关于处理涉及佛教寺庙、道教宫观管理有关问题的意见》，开展联合督查，集中治理宗教活动场所“被承包”“被上市”等乱象。2017年国家宗教事务局等12个部门制定下发了《关于进一步治理佛教道教商业化问题的若干意见》，禁止商业资本介入宗教活动场所，防止借教敛财等行为扰乱宗教活动正常秩序。有关部门加大对互联网宗教事务的管理，及时处理涉及宗教的违法信息，保护宗教界的合法权益。

　　Activities that disturb the normal order in places of worship have been rectified. In accordance with the “Directives on Some Issues Relating to the Management of Buddhist and Taoist Temples”, the SARA and other relevant departments have been conducting joint investigations since 2012 into the problem of religious revenue being used by businesspeople or “go public”. In 2017, the SARA and 11 related departments issued “Guidelines on Further Controlling the Commercialization of Buddhism and Taoism”, which prohibits commercial capital from being invested in religious revenues, to prevent normal religious activities from being affected by money-grabbing behavior. Relevant departments have intensified the management of the Internet regarding religious affairs, and swiftly dealt with the spread of illegal information concerning religions, effectively protecting the legal rights and interests of religious groups.