China to list legal places of worship, 'root out' illegal: Xinhua

Sat Dec 27, 2014 4:03am EST
By Pete Sweeney
SHANGHAI

(Reuters) - China is to publish online details of legal religious venues, the official Xinhua news agency reported on Saturday, 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, Wang Zuoan, director of the State Administration for Religious Affairs, told a conference on Friday, according to the news agency.

Xinhua made no mention of other religions but it quoted Wang as saying the information would help stop illegal religious activity in unauthorized locations.

The government's attitude toward religion has softened significantly in recent decades, and people are allowed to practice religion at sanctioned institutions that are required to preach and practice loyalty to the government.

http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/12/27/us-china-religion-idUSKBN0K505720141227