China introducing new financial regulations in clampdown on churches

by Karen Faulkner, Worthy News Correspondent

(Worthy News) – Continuing its clampdown on churches and other minority religious organizations, China’s communist regime is bringing in new regulations for governing the management of revenues, local and foreign donations and expenses of religious organizations, the Barnabas Fund reports.

The new Measures for the Financial Management of Venues for Religious Activities were devised by China’s State Administration for Religious Affairs (SARA) and Ministry of Finance, and will come into force on June 1.

Article 4 of the 55 articles contained in the regulations states, “The internal financial management system of a religious activity site shall be reported to the religious affairs department that handles the registration of the religious activity site.”

Article 43 provides that: “Religious affairs departments and finance departments shall guide religious activity sites to establish and improve internal financial management systems, inspect the implementation of the system, urge religious activity sites with problems to make rectifications, and punish violations of laws and regulations in accordance with the law.” Article 43 also allows the government to inspect the financial affairs and assets of churches and other religious entities: “…relevant government departments may organize financial and asset inspections and audits of religious activity sites,” the regulation says.

In a statement about the new regulations, Christian Persecution said in a website report: “The Chinese Communist Party is working actively and on numerous fronts to destroy Christianity and replace it in the hearts, minds, and souls of the people of China.” China ranks 17 on the US Open Doors Watch List of top 50 countries where Christians are persecuted on account of their faith.

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