Constructing a “Four-System Framework” to Promote the Sinicization of Religion in China

Since the 18th National Congress of the CPC, General Secretary Xi Jinping has emphasized in successive speeches that upholding the direction of sinicization of religion in China is one of the important tasks for doing religious work well in the New Era. At the National Conference on Religious Work held on December 3, 2021, General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out: “We must fully implement the Party’s policy on freedom of religious belief, uphold the direction of sinicization of religion in China, and actively guide religion to adapt to socialist society.” This is also a further elaboration and deepening based on discussions of the sinicization of religion at previous conferences. Since the 18th National Congress of the CPC, the Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core has put forward a series of new concepts and new measures regarding religious work, explaining the sinicization of religion from different angles, but the exposition on “upholding the direction of sinicization of religion in China” has remained consistent. For example, in 2015, at the Central Conference on United Front Work, the General Secretary put forward the innovative thesis that “to actively guide religion to adapt to socialist society, we must uphold the direction of sinicization”; at the 2016 National Conference on Religious Work, the General Secretary emphasized “supporting our country’s religions in upholding the direction of sinicization”; in 2017, “upholding the direction of sinicization of religion in China” was written into the report of the 19th National Congress of the CPC; in 2020, at the Third Central Symposium on Work in Xinjiang, the General Secretary deployed “upholding the direction of sinicization of Islam in Xinjiang and achieving the healthy development of religion”; in July 2021, during an inspection in Tibet, he required “actively guiding Tibetan Buddhism to adapt to socialist society, promoting religious harmony, social stability, and ethnic amity”; in August of the same year, during an inspection in Chengde, Hebei, he proposed “upholding the direction of sinicization of religion in China and actively guiding religion to adapt to socialist society.” This series of important expositions has repeatedly emphasized the importance of upholding the direction of sinicization of religion in China.

党的十八大以来，习近平总书记在历次讲话中强调，坚持我国宗教中国化方向是做好新时代宗教工作的重要任务之一。在2021年12月3日召开的全国宗教工作会议上，习近平总书记指出：“要全面贯彻党的宗教信仰自由政策，坚持我国宗教中国化方向，积极引导宗教与社会主义社会相适应。”这也是在历次会议对宗教中国化论述基础上作的进一步阐释和深化。党的十八大以来，以习近平同志为核心的党中央提出一系列关于宗教工作的新理念新举措，从不同的角度对宗教中国化进行了阐释，但对“坚持我国宗教中国化方向”的论述却是始终如一的。如2015年，在中央统战工作会议上，总书记提出“积极引导宗教与社会主义社会相适应，必须坚持中国化方向”的创新论断；在2016年的全国宗教工作会议上，总书记强调“支持我国宗教坚持中国化方向”；2017年，“坚持我国宗教的中国化方向”写入党的十九大报告；2020年，在第三次中央新疆工作座谈会上，总书记部署“坚持新疆伊斯兰教中国化方向，实现宗教健康发展”；2021年7月，在西藏考察时，要求“积极引导藏传佛教与社会主义社会相适应，促进宗教和顺、社会和谐、民族和睦”；同年8月，在河北承德考察时，提出“坚持我国宗教的中国化方向，积极引导宗教与社会主义社会相适应”。这一系列重要论述都一再强调了坚持我国宗教中国化方向的重要性。

Supporting our country’s religions in upholding the direction of sinicization requires institutional guarantees. Institutions are long-term and fundamental; a sound system is the guarantee for advancing the direction of sinicization of religion in China. Having laws to rely on and systems to follow is the prerequisite and basis for the smooth progress of the sinicization of religion. Religion is a cultural phenomenon that emerged at a certain historical stage of human social development and belongs to social ideology. As far as religion in our country is concerned, it will not only exist for a long time but will also continue to exert a certain influence on society according to its own laws and characteristics. Therefore, to do religious work well in the New Era, we must adhere to Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, thoroughly implement General Secretary Xi Jinping’s important expositions and directive instructions on religious work, use the Marxist view of religion to correctly grasp the essence of religion, study the objective laws of religious development, and guide and support our country’s religions in upholding the direction of sinicization. At the same time, in accordance with the spirit and requirements of the National Conference on Religious Work, we must strengthen institutional construction from multiple levels, including ideological guidance, talent teams, policies, and laws and regulations, so as to provide a solid guarantee for the sinicization of religion in China through a complete and sound institutional system.

支持我国宗教坚持中国化方向需要制度的保障。制度管长远、管根本，健全的制度是推进我国宗教坚持中国化方向的保障，有法可依、有制可循是宗教中国化顺利推进的前提和依据。宗教是人类社会发展到一定历史阶段出现的一种文化现象，属于社会意识形态。就我国宗教而言，其不仅会长期存在，而且还将按照自身的规律和特点，继续对社会发生一定的影响。因此，做好新时代的宗教工作，就要坚持习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想，深入贯彻落实习近平总书记关于宗教工作的重要论述和批示指示精神，运用马克思主义宗教观来正确把握宗教的本质，研究宗教发展的客观规律，既要引导、支持我国宗教坚持中国化方向，又要按照全国宗教工作会议的精神要求，从思想引领、人才队伍、政策法规等多个层面加强制度建设，以健全完善的制度体系为我国宗教坚持中国化提供坚实的保障。

I. Constructing an Institutional Guarantee System for Ideological Guidance: Strengthening Ideological Guidance for Religious Circles

一、构建思想引领的制度保障体系：加强对宗教界的思想引领

General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out: “To do the Party’s religious work well and uphold the Party’s basic policy on religious work, the key is to think deeply, see clearly, and grasp accurately regarding ‘guidance,’ achieving guidance that is methodical, powerful, and effective, and firmly holding the initiative in religious work.” Religious work is a special kind of mass work, and religious contradictions are basically contradictions among the people. Therefore, the primary task in doing religious work well is to strengthen ideological guidance for religious circles.

习近平总书记指出：“做好党的宗教工作，把党的宗教工作基本方针坚持好，关键是要在‘导’上想得深、看得透、把得准，做到‘导’之有方、‘导’之有力、‘导’之有效，牢牢掌握宗教工作主动权。”宗教工作是特殊的群众性工作，宗教矛盾基本上属于人民内部矛盾。所以，做好宗教工作，首要任务就是加强对宗教界的思想引领。

First, establish a system for ideological education and guidance. Engels discussed the essence of religion in *Anti-Dühring*: “All religion, however, is nothing but the fantastic reflection in men’s minds of those external forces which control their daily life.” [1]1 Xi Jinping’s remark on cultivating patriotic religious clergy, from his speech at the National Conference on Religious Work (2016). Thought is the precursor of action, and understanding is the guide to action. By establishing and improving relevant systems for ideological education and guidance, we strengthen ideological guidance for people in religious circles. First, establish a system for education on the Party’s theories, principles, and policies to consolidate the ideological foundation. Regularly study and convey relevant documents so that people in religious circles can promptly understand the decisions and deployments of the Party Central Committee and the requirements of the latest provincial committee meetings, thereby unifying ideological understanding and achieving ideological clarity and political firmness. Second, establish a system for education on national and global conditions to enhance political acumen. In his speech at a symposium with grassroots representatives, General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out: “The world today is undergoing changes unseen in a century; the COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated the evolution of these changes; the international environment is becoming increasingly complex; economic globalization is encountering headwinds; and unilateralism and protectionism are prevalent in some countries. We must seek our country’s development in a world that is more unstable and uncertain.” [2]2 The “Measures for the Administration of Religious Colleges” is a regulation issued by the State Administration for Religious Affairs of China, effective from 2021, governing the establishment, administration, and operation of religious colleges. Facing the complex domestic and international situation, through education on national and global conditions, guide people in religious circles to correctly understand the international situation, fully comprehend the “two overall situations,” [3]3 A Chinese administrative slogan describing a three-tier training responsibility structure: provincial level sets overall policy, municipal level implements the main training tasks, and grassroots level ensures coverage. and use concrete actions to lead religious believers to participate in economic development and maintain social stability. Third, establish a system for education on religious policies, laws, and regulations to clarify boundaries and bottom lines. At the National Conference on Religious Work, General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out: “Religious activities should be carried out within the scope stipulated by laws and regulations.” [4]4 A four-character rhyming slogan used in Chinese religious work to describe methods of engagement: direct contact with personnel, alignment of ideological thinking, connection of policy implementation, and grounding in legal frameworks. Fully implement the requirements in the *Measures for the Administration of Religious Personnel* and the *Measures for the Administration of Religious Groups* to strengthen the legal education of religious personnel, support and guide religious circles to learn, respect, use, and revere the law, take the lead in abiding by laws and regulations, and enhance religious cultivation. Guide them to correctly handle the relationships between religion and the state, religious doctrines and laws and regulations, and citizenship and faith; correctly understand the boundary between religious affairs and social affairs; do not confuse civil, economic, or criminal issues with religious issues; and ensure that there are no places, persons, or religions outside the law.

首先，建立思想教育引导制度。恩格斯在《反杜林论》中对宗教的本质进行了论述：“一切宗教都不过是支配着人们日常生活的外部力量在人们头脑中的幻想的反映。”思想是行动的先导，认识是行动的指南。通过建立完善相关思想教育引导制度，加强对宗教界人士的思想引领。一是建立党的理论方针政策教育制度，夯实思想根基。定期学习传达有关文件精神，使宗教界人士及时了解党中央决策部署、省委最新会议精神要求，以统一思想认识，做到思想清醒、政治坚定。二是建立国情世情教育制度，增强政治敏锐性。习近平总书记在基层代表座谈会上的讲话中指出：“当今世界正经历百年未有之大变局，新冠肺炎疫情加剧了大变局的演变，国际环境日趋复杂，经济全球化遭遇逆流，一些国家单边主义、保护主义盛行，我们必须在一个更加不稳定不确定的世界中谋求我国发展。”面对纷繁复杂的国内外形势，要通过国情世情的教育，引导宗教界人士正确认识国际形势，全面理解“两个大局”，以实际行动引领信教群众参与经济发展、维护社会稳定；三是建立宗教政策法规教育制度，明确边界底线。习近平总书记在全国宗教工作会议上指出：“宗教活动应当在法律法规规定范围内开展。”全面贯彻落实《宗教教职人员管理办法》《宗教团体管理办法》中加强教职人员法治教育的要求，支持引导宗教界学法尊法用法敬法，带头守法尊规，提升宗教修为。引导其正确处理宗教与国家、教规教义与法律法规、公民与信仰的关系，正确理解宗教事务与社会事务的界限，不将民事、经济、刑事问题与宗教问题混为一谈，确保无法外之地、法外之人、法外之教。

Second, establish a system for regularizing thematic education. In his speech at the summary meeting of the “Original Aspiration and Founding Mission” thematic education, General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out: “All previous centralized education campaigns of the Party have started with ideological education, focusing on solving the problems of insufficient learning, lack of ideological unity, and failure to keep up with actions, using both sustained and concentrated efforts to promote ideological unity, political solidarity, and action consistency within the Party.” [5]5 The National Conference on Religious Work, held in 2021, is a high-level meeting convened by the CPC Central Committee to set policy directions for religious affairs, emphasizing the Sinicization of religion. Thematic education is a powerful carrier for continuously grasping ideological and political guidance. According to the work priorities determined by the central and provincial committees, combined with major time nodes and important events, such as the founding of the Party, the founding of the country, reform and opening up, the sinicization of religion, and strengthening the legal system for religion, timely carry out diverse and vivid thematic education activities in the form of seminars, forums, essay collections, calligraphy and painting, and speeches. Make patriotic education concrete, practical, and results-oriented, stimulate the patriotic sentiments of religious circles, and strengthen their confidence in listening to the Party and following the Party.

其次，建立主题教育常态化制度。习近平总书记在“不忘初心、牢记使命”主题教育总结大会上的讲话中指出：“党的历次集中教育活动，都以思想教育打头，着力解决学习不深入、思想不统一、行动跟不上的问题，既绵绵用力又集中发力，推动全党思想上统一、政治上团结、行动上一致。”主题教育是持续抓好思想政治引领的有力载体，根据中央和省委确定的工作重点，结合重大时间节点和重要事项安排，如建党、建国、改革开放、宗教中国化、加强宗教法制建设等，适时开展研讨、论坛、征文、书画、演讲等形式多样、鲜活生动的主题教育活动，将爱国主义教育具体化、实践化、成果化，激发宗教界的爱国主义情怀，坚定他们听党话、跟党走的信心。

Third, establish a joint meeting system for religious groups. Regularly convene joint meetings of major religious groups to jointly study policies and regulations, exchange work experience, and share development achievements; jointly assess risks and hidden dangers in the religious field and address prominent issues existing in the religious field together; jointly formulate relevant systems for religious groups and the religious field, unify thinking, and build consensus; jointly propose codes of conduct in the religious field, promote religious circles to center on the core, serve the overall situation, assist development, and maintain stability.

再次，建立宗教团体联席会议制度。定期召开各大宗教团体联席会议，共同学习政策法规、交流工作经验、分享发展成果；共同研判宗教领域的风险隐患、一起应对宗教领域存在的突出问题；共同制定宗教团体和宗教领域的相关制度、统一思想凝聚共识；共同倡议宗教领域的行为规范，促进宗教界围绕中心、服务大局，助力发展维护稳定。

Finally, establish a system for building friendships and ties. General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out: “To do ethnic and religious work well, the most crucial thing is to achieve ethnic unity, and the most effective thing is to win people’s hearts.” [6]6 The “Measures for the Administration of Religious Clergy” is a regulation issued by the State Administration for Religious Affairs, effective from 2021, standardizing the qualification, management, and conduct of religious clergy. Religious work is work on people’s hearts. To further enhance the targetedness and effectiveness of ideological work, Party committees and governments at all levels, and united front and ethnic-religious departments at all levels, should establish a system for building friendships and ties with representative figures in religious circles. From the provincial party secretary, governor, and provincial united front work department head down to ordinary cadres in grassroots united front departments, all should pair up and build friendships with representative figures in religious circles. On the one hand, convince people with reason, adhere to political unity and cooperation and mutual respect in belief. Through tea talks, seminars, visits, and other forms, have more contact, more heart-to-heart talks, and provide more help to representative figures in religious circles, promptly understand their ideological trends and opinions and suggestions on religious work, and strengthen ideological guidance. On the other hand, move people with emotion, help solve their practical difficulties in work and life, and achieve the goal of uniting and winning people’s hearts.

最后，建立联谊交友制度。习近平总书记指出：“做好民族宗教工作，最关键的是搞好民族团结，最管用的是争取人心。”宗教工作是做人心的工作，为了进一步提升思想工作的针对性和有效性，各级党委政府、各级统战民宗部门，要建立与宗教界代表人士的联谊交友制度，从省委书记、省长和省委统战部长，到基层统战部门的一般干部，都应与宗教界代表人士结对交友。一方面，做到以理服人，坚持政治上团结合作、信仰上相互尊重。通过茶叙、座谈、走访等形式，与宗教界代表人士多接触、多谈心、多帮助，及时了解他们的思想动态及对宗教工作的意见建议，加强思想引领。另一方面，以情感人，帮助解决他们工作和生活中的实际困难，达到团结争取人心的目的。

II. Constructing an Institutional Guarantee for the Building of a Contingent of Religious Personnel: Accelerating Talent Cultivation

二、构建教职人员队伍建设的制度保障：加快人才培养

Talent cultivation is the key to religious work under the new circumstances. General Secretary Xi Jinping has pointed out: “We must attach importance to cultivating a contingent of patriotic religious clergy, adopt effective measures to improve the quality of religious figures, and ensure that the leadership of religious organizations is firmly in the hands of patriotic and religion-loving individuals.” [1]1 Xi Jinping’s remark on cultivating patriotic religious clergy, from his speech at the National Conference on Religious Work (2016). At present, although the number of religious clergy in China is large, there remains a serious shortage of comprehensive talents with good political quality, profound religious scholarship, strong management ability, and high prestige among the masses, which greatly constrains the pace and effectiveness of religion’s adherence to the direction of Sinicization and its adaptation to socialist society.

人才培养是做好新形势下宗教工作的关键。习近平总书记指出：“要重视培养爱国宗教教职人员队伍，采取有力措施提高宗教界人士素质，确保宗教组织领导权牢牢掌握在爱国爱教人士手中。”当前我国宗教教职人员虽然人数众多，但政治素质好、宗教造诣深、管理能力强、群众威信高的综合人才仍然严重不足，大大制约了宗教坚持中国化方向与社会主义社会相适应的步伐和成效。

(I) Establish an Educational and Training System for Religious Colleges

（一）建立宗教院校教育培训制度

The “Measures for the Administration of Religious Colleges” [2]2 The “Measures for the Administration of Religious Colleges” is a regulation issued by the State Administration for Religious Affairs of China, effective from 2021, governing the establishment, administration, and operation of religious colleges. clearly stipulates: “Religious colleges are important bases for cultivating patriotic religious reserve talents, correctly interpreting religious doctrines, and training in-service religious clergy.” As the main front for cultivating religious clergy and other specialized religious personnel, religious colleges bear the responsibility of supplying more qualified clergy to grassroots religious venues. The level and quality of talent cultivation should be improved by perfecting the educational and training system of religious colleges. Before qualification recognition, all religious clergy must undergo systematic study and education at state-approved formal religious colleges, comprehensively enhancing their religious knowledge and overall quality. Those who have not obtained a graduation certificate shall not be eligible for qualification recognition as religious clergy, nor shall they engage in religious activities that only religious clergy are permitted to conduct. At the same time, religious colleges must assume the role of a base for the training and rotation of religious clergy. All religious clergy must, within five years, undergo training at a religious college for a period of no less than three months, in order to update their knowledge system, consolidate theoretical support, improve political quality, and better serve the religious masses.

《宗教院校管理办法》中明确规定：“宗教院校是培养爱国宗教后备人才、正确阐释宗教教义、培训在职宗教教职人员的重要基地。”宗教院校作为培养宗教教职人员和其他宗教专门人才的主阵地，承担着向基层宗教场所输送更多合格教职人员的责任，应通过完善宗教院校教育培训制度提升人才培养水平和质量。所有宗教教职人员在资格认定之前都要到国家批准的正规宗教院校进行系统学习教育，全面提高他们的宗教学识和综合素质，没有获得毕业证书的人员不得进行宗教教职人员资格认定，不得从事宗教教职人员才能从事的宗教活动。与此同时，宗教院校要担负起宗教教职人员的培训轮训基地职责，所有的宗教教职人员都要在五年之内到宗教院校进行一次为期三个月以上的培训，以更新知识体系，夯实理论支撑，提高政治素质，更好地为信教群众服务。

(II) Establish a National Education System for Religious Figures

（二）建立宗教界人士的国民教育制度

At present, the majority of religious clergy in China receive only the educational training provided by religious colleges. Although this is divided into associate, bachelor’s, and graduate degree levels, compared with the corresponding levels in the national education system, there remain significant limitations and shortcomings in their cultural foundation, management ability, and perspective for viewing and solving problems. On the one hand, religious figures should be encouraged to actively apply for admission to institutions of higher learning, participate in systematic cultural knowledge learning, and shape correct ideological and value concepts. On the other hand, in regions where conditions permit, with the support of Party committee and government leadership, financial support and subsidies should be used to cooperate with local universities to provide degree education for those religious clergy who have potential for cultivation and can be relied upon for important posts, optimizing their knowledge structure and enhancing comprehensive capabilities, thereby establishing a high-quality contingent of reserve backbone clergy, enabling them to become models of patriotism and religion-loving and the backbone leading the Sinicization of religion.

目前我国大部分宗教教职人员只接受宗教院校的教育培训，虽然也划分为专科、本科、研究生学历，但与国民教育中相对应的学历层次相比，其文化基础、管理能力以及看待问题、解决问题的视角视野仍有很大的局限性和短板。一方面，应鼓励宗教界人士积极报考高等院校，参加系统的文化知识学习，型塑正确的思想价值观念。另一方面，有条件的地区要在争取党委政府领导的支持下，通过财政支持和补贴的办法，联合区域内高校对那些有培养前途、可堪重用的宗教教职人员开展学历教育，优化其知识结构、提升综合能力，建立一支高素质的后备骨干教职人员人才队伍，使他们成为爱国爱教的典范和引领宗教中国化的骨干。

(III) Establish a System for Full Rotation Training

（三）建立全员轮训制度

In response to the actual situation of the generally low quality of religious clergy, united front and religious affairs departments at all levels should establish a training model for clergy characterized by “provincial-level overall planning, municipal-level as the main body, and grassroots-level taking responsibility.” [3]3 A Chinese administrative slogan describing a three-tier training responsibility structure: provincial level sets overall policy, municipal level implements the main training tasks, and grassroots level ensures coverage. Following the goal of rotating training for all religious clergy once a year, training on political situation, religious policy, and laws and regulations should be conducted for religious clergy. Through the method of “personnel contact, ideological connection, policy linkage, and legal grounding,” [4]4 A four-character rhyming slogan used in Chinese religious work to describe methods of engagement: direct contact with personnel, alignment of ideological thinking, connection of policy implementation, and grounding in legal frameworks. comprehensive educational guidance and interpretation of policies, laws, and regulations should be carried out, establishing a correct political outlook, cultural outlook, and historical outlook, and making every effort to safeguard national political security and national security.

针对宗教教职人员素质整体偏低的实际情况，各级统战、宗教事务部门要建立起“省级抓总、市级为主、基层包干”的教职人员培训模式，按照对宗教教职人员每年轮训一遍的目标，对宗教教职人员开展政治形势、宗教政策和法规培训。通过“人员接触、思想接头、政策接通、法规接地”的方法，全面进行教育引导和政策法规解读工作，树立正确的政治观、文化观、历史观，全力维护国家的政治安全、国家安全。

(IV) Establish a System for Sermon Exchange

（四）建立讲经交流制度

“The adaptation of religion to the society in which it exists is an objective law for the survival and development of all world religions, and it is also an inevitable requirement for the healthy transmission of religion in China.” The adaptation of religion to socialist society is an inevitable law for religion to be able to transmit healthily within socialist society. At present, adhering to the direction of the Sinicization of religion means supporting the religious circles in taking the core socialist values as the guide, while maintaining basic beliefs, core doctrines, and ritual systems, deeply excavating content within religious doctrines and regulations that is conducive to social harmony, progress of the times, and healthy civilization, and interpreting religious doctrines and regulations in a way that meets the requirements of contemporary China’s development and progress and can promote the excellent traditional Chinese culture. By organizing religious circles to carry out sermon exchanges, guiding and supporting them to gradually construct a religious scriptural and theological system with Chinese characteristics that keeps pace with the development of the times, and applying these achievements to daily sermon activities, religious scriptures should be interpreted for the broad masses of religious believers in a manner that keeps pace with the times, achieving both conformity with religious doctrines and principles and alignment with the core socialist values, thereby playing a role in ideological guidance and cultural identification for the broad masses of religious believers, and accelerating the process of the Sinicization of religion.

“宗教与所处社会相适应是世界各宗教生存发展的客观规律，也是我国宗教健康传承的必然要求。”宗教与社会主义社会相适应是宗教能够在社会主义社会中健康传承的必然规律。当下，坚持宗教中国化方向，就是要支持宗教界以社会主义核心价值观为引领，在保持基本信仰、核心教义、礼仪制度的同时，深入挖掘教义教规中有利于社会和谐、时代进步、健康文明的内容，对教规教义作出符合当代中国发展进步要求、能够弘扬中华优秀传统文化的阐释。通过组织宗教界开展讲经交流，引导支持宗教界逐步构建具有中国特色，与时代发展同步的宗教经学、神学体系，并将这些成果运用到日常讲经活动之中，向广大信教群众与时俱进地解读宗教经典，做到既符合宗教教理教义，又与社会主义核心价值观契合，对广大信教群众起到思想引领和文化认同的作用，加快宗教中国化进程。

(V) Establish a Dynamic Adjustment System for the Database of Religious Clergy

（五）建立宗教教职人员数据库动态调整制度

At present, united front and religious work departments in various localities have, in light of local realities, established databases of religious clergy and talent pools of backbone clergy. However, in line with the requirements of implementing the National Conference on Religious Work [5]5 The National Conference on Religious Work, held in 2021, is a high-level meeting convened by the CPC Central Committee to set policy directions for religious affairs, emphasizing the Sinicization of religion. regarding promoting the Sinicization of religion and enforcing the “Measures for the Administration of Religious Clergy,” [6]6 The “Measures for the Administration of Religious Clergy” is a regulation issued by the State Administration for Religious Affairs, effective from 2021, standardizing the qualification, management, and conduct of religious clergy. dynamic analysis of religious clergy must be further strengthened. This includes multi-dimensional examination of their political attitude, ideological consciousness, religious scholarship, management ability, religious conduct, law-abiding status, and prestige among the masses. Those who violate religious doctrines and regulations, violate religious precepts, violate policies and laws, or use religion as a pretext to seek personal gain at public expense, benefit themselves at the expense of the public, or commit crimes, must be resolutely expelled from the contingent of religious clergy. Those who are young and promising, politically steadfast, and adhere to the independent self-management of religion and the direction of Sinicization should be promptly brought into view, supplemented into the database and talent pool, and subjected to intensified key cultivation, so as to provide talent assurance for the healthy development of religion.

当前，各地统战、宗教工作部门都结合地方实际，建立了宗教教职人员数据库和骨干教职人员人才库，但还要随着落实全国宗教工作会议关于推进宗教中国化和贯彻执行《宗教教职人员管理办法》的要求，进一步加大对宗教教职人员的动态分析，包括对其政治态度、思想意识、宗教造诣、管理能力、宗教作风、守法情况、群众威信等多维度的考察，对违背宗教教规教义、违背宗教戒律、违反政策法规或者借宗教之名假公济私、损公肥私、违法犯罪的，要坚决清除出宗教教职人员队伍；对年轻有为、政治坚定、坚持宗教独立自主自办和中国化方向的，要及时纳入视野，补充到数据库、人才库中，并加紧重点培养，为宗教健康发展提供人才保障。

(VI) Establish a System for Post Training

（六）建立岗位锻炼制度

Practical training through posts is an inevitable path for the growth of any management personnel, and it is also the most effective and efficient method for enhancing executive ability; religious clergy are no exception. Because experience in different posts allows them to accumulate work experience, broaden their horizons, and also enhance their ability to discover, analyze, and solve problems in real problem situations. First, for young backbone clergy with high political quality and profound religious scholarship, they can be arranged for temporary posts in religious groups and key religious venues, enabling them to better understand policies, laws, and regulations, gain a deeper understanding of the actual situation of grassroots religion, and increase their abilities through training. Second, methods for cross-regional and cross-provincial temporary postings can be gradually explored and experimented with, selecting young backbone clergy to go to advanced regions and advanced venues for periodic study and exchange, in order to enhance their quality and ability, and upon completion, better serve local religious work.

岗位实践锻炼是任何从事管理人员成长的必由之路，也是提升执行能力最管用最有效的办法，宗教教职人员也概莫能外。因为不同岗位的历练可以让其积累工作经验、增长见识，也可以在现实问题情境中提升发现、分析和解决问题的能力。一是对政治素质高、宗教造诣好的青年骨干教职人员，可以安排到宗教团体、重点宗教场所进行挂职锻炼，使他们更加懂政策法规，更加了解基层宗教实际情况，在锻炼中增长才干。二是可以逐步探讨实验跨地区、跨省市挂职办法，选派青年骨干教职人员到先进地区、先进场所进行阶段性学习交流，以提升素质能力，学成后更好地服务本地宗教工作。

(VII) Establish a System for Appointment and Utilization

（七）建立安排使用制度

First, in conjunction with the rotation of leadership in religious groups and mid-term adjustments, patriotic and religion-loving, vigorous representative figures from religious circles should be arranged into the leadership bodies of groups at all levels, to strengthen forces, supplement fresh blood, continuously enhance the creativity and vitality of patriotic religious groups, improve the cohesion and influence of the groups, and thereby elevate the status and influence of religious representative figures within religious circles and among religious believers, creating conditions for them to fully play their exemplary and leading roles. Second, attention should be paid to making political arrangements, guiding them to actively participate in political consultation and deliberation, and play a role in People’s Congresses and People’s Political Consultative Conferences at all levels, providing smooth channels for religious figures to participate in politics, offer suggestions and advice, and play their roles.

一是要结合宗教团体换届和届中调整，把爱国爱教、年富力强的宗教界代表人士安排到各级团体领导班子中，充实力量，补充新鲜血液，不断加强爱国宗教团体的创造力和活力，提高团体的凝聚力和影响力，进而提升宗教代表人士在宗教界和信教群众中的地位及影响，为他们充分发挥表率和引领作用创造条件。二是注重做好政治安排，引导其积极参政议政，在各级人大和政协中发挥作用，为宗教界人士参政议政、建言献策、发挥作用提供畅通的渠道。

(VIII) Establish a System for International Exchange

（八）建立国际交流制度

Religious culture is an important component of Chinese culture and also a significant element of world culture. Whether indigenous or foreign, religions in China have a long history and profound foundation, as well as a glorious tradition and shining example of peaceful interaction with the international community. “In the history of Sino-foreign cultural exchange, religious cultural exchange has always occupied a very important position, giving rise to a number of eminent monks and Taoist masters who made outstanding contributions in this regard. We must fully leverage the cultural advantages of Chinese Buddhism and Chinese Taoism, play an active role in public diplomacy, and tell the ‘Chinese Buddhist story’ and the ‘Chinese Taoist story’ well.” [7]7 Quotation from Xi Jinping’s speech at the National Conference on Religious Work, 22–23 April 2016. Religious culture knows no borders; within the same religious system, religions in China and those in other countries share common faith pursuits. In the current era of building the New Era and constructing a community with a shared future for mankind, religious culture will inevitably become an important channel and means of connection and exchange between China and the world. Religious groups, religious colleges, venues for religious activities, and religious clergy should be encouraged, on the basis of mutual respect, equality, and friendship, to go abroad, conduct external exchanges, spread the concept of peace, tell China’s story well, promote people-to-people diplomacy, further enhance mutual understanding between China and other countries, and win the understanding and support of people around the world for China’s political system, economic system, cultural system, social system, reform and opening up, and ethnic and religious policies. This will use facts to counter Western countries’ attempts to smear and attack China under the pretext of democracy and human rights, thereby creating a favorable international space for China’s peaceful development.

宗教文化是中华文化的重要组成部分，也是世界文化中的重要内容。无论是本土宗教还是外来宗教，在我国都有着悠久的历史和深厚的底蕴，也有着与国际社会和平交往的光荣传统和光辉典范。“在中外文化交流史上，宗教文化交流一直占有十分重要地位，涌现出一批在这方面做出杰出贡献的高僧高道。要充分利用中国佛教、中国道教的文化优势，发挥在公共外交中的积极作用，讲好‘中国佛教故事’‘中国道教故事’。”宗教文化没有国界，在同一宗教体系中，我国宗教和世界其他国家的宗教，都有着共同的信仰追求。在建设新时代的今天，在构建人类命运共同体的当前，宗教文化也必将成为我国与世界联系交往的重要途径和手段。要鼓励宗教团体、宗教院校、宗教活动场所、宗教教职人员在相互尊重、平等、友好的基础上，走出国门，开展对外交往，传播和平理念，讲好中国故事，促进民间外交，进一步增进我国与世界各国的相互理解，争取世界人民对我国政治制度、经济制度、文化制度、社会制度和改革开放以及民族宗教政策的理解和支持，用事实回击西方国家假借民主、人权之名抹黑攻击中国的企图，为我国的和平发展营造良好的国际空间。

III. Constructing Institutional Guarantees for the Law-Based Management of Religious Affairs: Improving Policies, Laws, and Regulations

三、构建依法管理宗教事务的制度保障：完善政策法规

Religious work must adhere to the principle of grasping both aspects and ensuring both are robust. While persisting in the guidance of ideological education, it is also necessary, in accordance with the principle of “protecting the lawful, curbing the illegal, containing extremism, resisting infiltration, and combating crime,” to further improve policies, laws, and regulations, construct an institutional guarantee system for the law-based management of religious affairs, and use laws, regulations, and rules to establish the bottom line and red line for the healthy transmission of religion. United front and religious affairs departments at all levels should, based on the Regulations on Religious Affairs and relevant laws and regulations, further establish and improve the management system for religious affairs, using systems to manage people, affairs, property, and activities, thereby enhancing the capacity building and legal standards of religious work.

宗教工作要坚持两手抓、两手硬，在坚持思想教育引领的同时，还要按照“保护合法、制止非法、遏制极端、抵御渗透、打击犯罪”的原则，进一步完善政策法规，构建依法管理宗教事务的制度保障体系，用法律法规和规章制度构建宗教健康传承的底线红线。各级统战、宗教工作部门要依据宗教事务条例和相关法律法规，进一步建立完善宗教事务管理制度，用制度管人、管事、管物、管活动，提高宗教工作能力建设和法制水平。

(I) Establishing and Improving the Leadership and Coordination System for Religious Work

（一）建立完善宗教工作领导和协调制度

The united front cause is the cause of the entire Party. Strengthening the Party’s leadership over united front work, including religious work, is a consistent requirement of the Party. First, establish a Party committee responsibility system. Further strengthen the Party’s leadership over religious work, implement the main responsibility of Party committees and the primary responsibility of Party committee secretaries, incorporate religious work into the agenda of Party committee standing committee meetings, include it in the study content of the theoretical study center group, and incorporate it into assessment and evaluation content. Second, build a sound coordination system for religious work. At the 2021 conference on religious work, General Secretary Xi Jinping emphasized: “We must improve the working mechanisms and systems for religious affairs, and promote the construction of a governance pattern for religious affairs featuring Party committee leadership, government management, social coordination, and religious self-discipline.” [8]8 Quotation from Xi Jinping’s speech at the National Conference on Religious Work, 3–4 December 2021. Under the unified leadership of the Party committee, united front departments must assume the responsibility for coordination and leadership; religious affairs departments must assume the responsibility for law-based management; Party and government departments such as discipline inspection and supervision, organization, propaganda, education, public security, culture, land, planning, publishing, and market regulation, as well as people’s organizations such as trade unions, the Communist Youth League, women’s federations, and science and technology associations, must all fulfill their respective duties in religious work, forming a pattern of religious work where all parties work together to jointly carry out religious work.

统一战线事业是全党的事业，加强对包括宗教工作在内的统战工作的领导是党的一贯要求。一是建立党委负责制。进一步加强党对宗教工作的领导，落实党委的主体责任和党委书记的第一责任人责任，把宗教工作纳入党委常委会议事日程，列入理论中心组学习内容，纳入考核考评内容。二是建好宗教工作协调制度。在2021年宗教工作会议上，习近平总书记强调：“要健全宗教工作体制机制，推动构建党委领导、政府管理、社会协同、宗教自律的宗教事务治理格局。”在党委的统一领导下，统战部门要负起牵头协调责任，宗教工作部门要担负起依法管理责任，纪委监委、组织、宣传、教育、公安、文化、国土、规划、出版、市场监管等党政部门以及工会、共青团、妇联、科协等人民团体都要按照各自的职责做好宗教工作，形成齐抓共管的宗教工作格局，共同做好宗教工作。

(II) Establishing a Management System for Religious Activities

（二）建立宗教活动管理制度

First, establish an approval and supervision system for religious activities. Religious affairs departments at all levels must strengthen the pre-approval, in-process supervision, and post-event summarization and improvement of religious activities, preventing religious activities from blindly seeking scale, reducing the frequency of cross-regional events, and eliminating the phenomenon of religious activities arbitrarily taking to the streets and disrupting normal social order; guard against major accidents occurring at venues for religious activities, or incidents that violate religious taboos, hurt the religious feelings of religious citizens, undermine ethnic unity, or affect social stability. Second, establish a reward system for reporting illegal and unlawful religious activities. Social forces should be mobilized to report various types of illegal and unlawful religious activities, such as: unauthorized establishment of venues for religious activities, illegal holding of religious activities, unauthorized organization or participation in religious education, impersonating religious clergy to conduct religious activities or defraud money, investing in or contracting venues for religious activities, religious clergy promoting or funding religious extremism, accepting appointments to clerical positions from foreign religious groups or institutions, printing and distributing illegal religious publications, using public welfare and charitable activities for proselytizing, and providing assistance to these illegal activities. Reports can be made via letter, in person, or email. After verifying the relevant information and confirming its accuracy, religious affairs departments at all levels shall reward the individuals or organizations that report illegal and unlawful religious activities, and impose penalties on the illegal acts in accordance with the Regulations on Religious Affairs and relevant laws and regulations, ensuring harmony and stability in the religious sphere.

一是建立宗教活动审批和监管制度。各级宗教事务部门要加强对宗教活动的事前审批、事中监管和事后总结完善工作，防止宗教活动盲目求大，减少跨区举办频率，杜绝宗教活动随意上街影响社会正常秩序现象发生；防范宗教活动场所内发生重大事故或者发生违犯宗教禁忌等伤害信教公民宗教感情、破坏民族团结、影响社会稳定的事件。二是建立违规违法宗教活动举报奖励制度。要发动社会力量举报各类违规违法宗教活动，如对擅自设立宗教活动场所、非法举行宗教活动、擅自组织参与宗教教育、假冒宗教教职人员进行宗教活动或骗取钱财、投资承包宗教活动场所、宗教教职人员宣扬资助宗教极端主义、接受境外宗教团体或者机构委任教职、印发非法宗教出版物、利用公益慈善活动传教以及为这些非法活动提供帮助等非法违法行为，通过信函、当面或者电子邮件等途径进行举报，各级宗教事务部门对相关情况核实无误后，对举报违规违法宗教活动的个人或组织予以奖励，并按照《宗教事务条例》和相关法律法规对违法行为进行处罚，确保宗教领域和谐稳定。

(III) Establishing and Improving the Management System for Religious Clergy

（三）建立健全宗教教职人员管理制度

Religious clergy interact directly with believers, and their political stance and level of religious cultivation directly influence the cognition of believers. By strictly controlling the entry point, rigid systems should be used to enhance their professional competence. First, establish a pre-certification review system for religious clergy, strictly controlling the “entry point.” In accordance with the requirements for clergy qualification certification in the Measures for the Management of Religious Clergy, united front and religious affairs departments at all levels shall conduct preliminary investigations and reviews of the relevant personnel’s educational background, political attitude, and family background. Those with too low an educational level, an incorrect political attitude, or an improper attitude towards their religious faith shall not be approved. Second, establish a study, training, and examination system for religious clergy, firmly grasping the “improvement point.” Under the guidance of the united front and religious affairs departments at the same level, religious groups at all levels shall, for those who have studied at formal religious colleges or higher national education institutions and obtained relevant academic qualifications, after centralized training, conduct examinations on basic political knowledge, religious policies, laws and regulations, basic religious knowledge, and basic cultural knowledge. Admission shall be based on the construction plan and required number of religious clergy in the region or province. The clergy induction ceremony shall be held in accordance with religious rituals, and then they shall be filed with the religious affairs department to become formal religious clergy. Those who have not studied at formal religious colleges or higher national education institutions and obtained relevant academic qualifications shall, in principle, not be recognized as having religious clergy qualifications, in order to better improve the overall quality of religious clergy. Third, establish an elimination and withdrawal system for religious clergy, perfecting the “exit point.” United front and religious affairs departments at all levels must strengthen supervision and inspection of religious clergy in their regions. Based on the results of inspections, unannounced visits, and social reports, for religious clergy with an incorrect political attitude, low religious attainment, improper clerical conduct, impure faith, or who use religious resources for personal gain or for the benefit of specific individuals, or who violate laws, regulations, rules, or the rules and regulations of their own group, the relevant religious groups shall be supervised to conduct verification and revoke their clergy qualifications, thereby purifying the ranks of religious clergy and maintaining the good image of religious clergy.

宗教教职人员直接和信众打交道，其政治立场、宗教修为水平的高低直接影响着信众的认知。应通过严把入口关，以刚性的制度提升其业务水平。一是建立宗教教职人员认定前审查制度，严把“入口关”。依据《宗教教职人员管理办法》关于教职人员资格认定的要求，各级统战、宗教工作部门对相关人员的学历、政治态度、家庭背景等进行前置性考察审查，凡是学历太低、政治态度不正确、对所信仰的宗教信仰态度不端正的，不予批准。二是建立宗教教职人员学习培训考试制度，抓牢“提升关”。各级宗教团体在同级统战、宗教工作部门的指导下，对参加过正规宗教院校或者高等国民教育学习并取得相关学历的，经过集中培训后应分别进行基本政治知识、宗教政策法规和宗教基本知识、基础文化知识考试，按照本地区本省份宗教教职人员建设规划和需求数量予以录取，并按照宗教仪轨举行教职人员入职仪式，然后在宗教职务部门进行备案，成为正式的宗教教职人员。没有经过正规宗教院校或者高等国民教育学习并取得相关学历的，原则上不予认定宗教教职人员资格，以便更好地提升宗教教职人员的总体素质。三是建立宗教教职人员淘汰退出制度，完善“退出关”。各级统战、宗教事务部门要加强对本地区宗教教职人员的督导检查。根据检查暗访和社会举报情况，对政治态度不正确、宗教造诣不高、教风不正、信仰不纯、借宗教资源为个人或特定人群谋私利的，对违反法律、法规、规章和本团体规章制度的宗教教职人员，督导相关宗教团体进行核查并撤销其教职人员资格，从而纯洁宗教教职人员队伍，维护宗教教职人员的良好形象。

(IV) Establishing and Improving the Management System for Religious Groups

（四）建立完善宗教团体管理制度

First, in accordance with the requirements of the State Administration for Religious Affairs’ Measures for the Management of Religious Groups, relevant management systems should be formulated. This involves not only providing necessary support and assistance for their work, respecting and leveraging their role in the internal affairs of religion, but also further strengthening organizational construction, work style construction, and discipline construction, striving to build a high-quality leadership team that is politically trustworthy, democratic in work style, and efficient in work, thereby further enhancing the cohesion and appeal of religious groups among religious clergy and believers. Second, united front and religious affairs departments at all levels must strengthen the supervision and assessment of religious groups and their members, review and approve major activities carried out by religious groups, and ensure that religious groups develop in the correct direction.

一要依据国家宗教局《宗教团体管理办法》的要求，制定相关的管理制度，既要为他们开展工作提供必要的支持和帮助，尊重和发挥他们在宗教内部事务中的作用，又要进一步加强组织建设、作风建设、纪律建设，努力建设政治上可信、作风上民主、工作上高效的高素质领导班子，进一步提升宗教团体在宗教教职人员和信教群众中的凝聚力和号召力。二是各级统战、宗教事务部门要加强对宗教团体及其班子成员的监督考核，对宗教团体开展的重大活动进行审查把关，确保宗教团体沿着正确的方向发展。

(V) Establishing and Improving the Management System for Venues for Religious Activities

（五）建立完善宗教活动场所管理制度

First, strictly control the establishment of religious activity sites. Approval for establishment shall be granted based on factors such as the number of local religious believers, the needs of religious life, sources of funding, and urban-rural construction planning. Second, improve the various management systems for religious activity sites. Improve the personnel management system, the system for religious personnel from outside to preside over religious activities, the financial management system, the security management system, the fire safety management system, the cultural relics protection system, the health and epidemic prevention system, and the system for investigating and rectifying potential safety hazards. Use institutions to regulate the conduct of religious activity sites and ensure their safe operation. Third, strictly enforce the registration system for religious activity sites. The religious affairs department’s approval for the establishment of a religious activity site is a pre-requisite review. After the religious affairs department grants approval, the preparatory organization for the religious activity site must also go through the relevant approval procedures with departments such as land and planning. Any site that has not been approved by these other departments is likewise an illegal religious activity site, and the county-level religious affairs department shall not handle its registration procedures.

一是严把宗教活动场所设立关。根据当地信教群众数量、宗教生活需求、经费来源、城乡建设规划等要素进行设立审批。二是健全宗教活动场所各项管理制度。健全人事管理制度、外来宗教教职人员主持宗教活动制度、财务管理制度、治安管理制度、消防管理制度、文物保护制度、卫生防疫制度以及安全隐患风险排查制度等，用制度规范宗教活动场所的行为，确保宗教活动场所安全运行。三是严格宗教活动场所登记制度。宗教事务部门对宗教活动场所的设立是前置性审批，宗教事务部门审批同意后，宗教活动场所的筹备组织还要到国土、规划等部门履行相关审批手续，凡是其他部门没有进行审批的，同样是不合法的宗教活动场所，县级宗教事务部门不得为其办理宗教活动场所登记手续。

(6) Establish and improve the management system for religious colleges and seminaries

（六）建立完善宗教院校管理制度

Religious colleges and seminaries are the main front for cultivating religious talent. Strengthening and improving their management is of great significance for raising the quality of religious education, cultivating a contingent of religious personnel, and promoting the Sinicization of religion in China. In accordance with the provisions of the *Measures for the Administration of Religious Colleges and Seminaries*: First, strictly control the establishment threshold. Religious colleges and seminaries shall be established by national religious bodies or religious bodies of provinces, autonomous regions, and municipalities directly under the Central Government. No other organization or individual may establish a religious college or seminary. Second, strictly control the curriculum. In accordance with the provisions on teaching curricula in the *Measures for the Administration of Religious Colleges and Seminaries*, it should be ensured that public courses cover “Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, education in the core socialist values, excellent traditional Chinese culture, advanced socialist culture, ideological and political theory, legal regulations, and courses in the national common language and script,” and the institutional red line that “the proportion of class hours shall not be less than 30 percent of the total class hours” must be strictly enforced. This guides religious figures and believers in cultivating and practicing the core socialist values, promoting Chinese culture, and enhancing patriotic sentiment. Third, strictly control the teaching staff. Implement and gradually improve the management system for the teaching staff, requiring that both in-house teachers and externally hired teachers undergo political review and review of teaching content. Those who stubbornly violate policies and regulations, oppose the principle of independence and self-management, or spread fallacious doctrines must be resolutely expelled from the teaching staff. Fourth, actively explore the establishment of a joint school-running system. For a particular religion, if the number of believers in a given region is small and the demand for religious personnel is low, neighboring provinces can jointly explore a model of running schools together to conduct education and training. This better saves costs, improves the quality of running schools, and reduces the phenomenon of small-scale, all-in-one operations.

宗教院校是培养宗教人才的主阵地，加强和完善宗教院校的管理对于提高宗教院校的教育质量，培养宗教人才队伍，推进我国宗教中国化具有重要意义。依据《宗教院校管理办法》的规定，一是严把设立关。宗教院校由全国性宗教团体或者省、自治区、直辖市宗教团体设立。其他任何组织或者个人不得设立宗教院校。二是严把课程设置关。按照《宗教院校管理办法》中关于教学课程的规定，应确保公共课程涵盖“习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想、社会主义核心价值观教育，中华优秀传统文化、社会主义先进文化、思想政治理论、法律法规和国家通用语言文字教育课程”，且压实“课时比例不得低于总学时的百分之三十”的制度红线，引导宗教界人士和信教群众培育和践行社会主义核心价值观，弘扬中华文化，增强爱国主义情感。三是严把教师队伍关。落实并逐步健全教师队伍管理制度，要求无论是本校教师还是外聘教师，都要进行政治审查和授课内容审查，对执意违反政策法规、反对独立自主自办原则、散布歪理邪说的，坚决清除出教师队伍。四是积极探索建立联合办学制度。对于某一宗教，如果本地区信教人数少、教职人员需求量小，可以就近几个省共同探索联合办学的模式开展教育培训，更好地节约成本，提高办学质量，减少小而全的现象。

(7) Establish and improve the registration and management system for religious property

（七）建立完善宗教财产登记管理制度

First, establish a legal person registration system for religious organizations, enabling them to enjoy relevant rights and interests in accordance with laws and regulations. Second, establish a system for the lawful registration of religious property. Encourage religious organizations to proactively register their religious property in accordance with the law and obtain certificates of immovable property rights; when property rights are changed or transferred, the change or transfer registration should be handled promptly. Ensure that religious organizations manage and use property owned by the state or collectives in accordance with the law, and lawfully enjoy ownership or other property rights over other lawful property. Prevent lawbreakers from encroaching upon, seizing, privately dividing, damaging, or illegally sealing, detaining, freezing, confiscating, or disposing of the lawful property of religious organizations. Effectively safeguard the property safety of religious circles and ensure the healthy development of religion.

一是要建立宗教组织法人登记制度，使宗教组织依法依规享有相关权益。二是建立宗教财产依法登记制度。鼓励宗教组织主动对宗教财产依法进行登记，领取不动产权证书；产权变更、转移的，应当及时办理变更、转移登记。确保宗教组织依法管理和使用属于国家、集体所有的财产，依法享有其他合法财产的所有权或者其他财产权利，防止不法分子侵占、哄抢、私分、损毁或者非法查封、扣押、冻结、没收、处分宗教组织的合法财产，切实维护宗教界的财产安全，保障宗教健康发展。

(8) Establish and improve the management system for internet religious information services

（八）建立完善互联网宗教信息服务管理制度

With the development of the information age, internet religion has become more active, necessitating further strengthening of the management of internet religious affairs. First, improve the internet religious service activities of religious organizations and standardize the management of religious websites. Implement the requirements of the *Measures for the Administration of Internet Religious Information Services*, strictly prohibit online proselytizing and the commercialization of religious activities, strictly prohibit the publication of articles and opinions that violate policies and regulations, and encourage religious websites to publicize the Party’s religious theories, principles, policies, and national laws and regulations. Second, establish a system for non-religious organizations’ involvement in religious activities. Strictly prohibit them from illegally profiting from religious resources, and strictly prohibit them from engaging in online proselytizing and internet religious activities. Third, establish a system for resisting foreign religious infiltration online. Prevent hostile forces from using religion to spread extremist ideologies, establish online organizations, and train cadres within the country, effectively safeguarding ideological security and social stability.

随着信息化时代的发展，互联网宗教也更加活跃，需要进一步加强对互联网宗教事务的管理。一是完善宗教组织互联网宗教服务活动，规范宗教网站管理。落实《互联网宗教信息服务管理办法》的要求，严禁网络传教和宗教商业化活动，严禁发布违背政策法规的文章和言论，鼓励宗教网站宣传党的宗教理论、方针政策和国家的法律法规。二是建立非宗教组织涉宗教活动制度。严禁其借宗教资源非法牟利，严禁从事网上传教和网络宗教活动。三是建立网络抵御境外宗教渗透制度。防止敌对势力借宗教传播极端思想在国内建立网络组织、培训骨干，切实维护意识形态安全和社会稳定。

(9) Establish and improve the review and approval system for the publication and distribution of religious publications

（九）建立完善宗教出版物出版发行审核制度

Religious publications are important vehicles for conducting religious teaching, religious research, and meeting the religious life needs of citizens. Their review must be strictly controlled. First, improve the system for printing internal materials by religious organizations. Internal materials printed by religious organizations can only be circulated internally within the religion and must not be circulated or sold in society, nor used for profit. Religious affairs departments at all levels must strictly review the content of materials, strictly supervise circulation and distribution, and resolutely crack down on illegal activities. Second, establish a review system for publicly published materials involving religious content. In accordance with the regulations on the management of publications, religious work departments must carefully review and strictly control publicly published books involving religious content. Books that do not conform to historical facts, undermine harmonious coexistence between religious and non-religious citizens, undermine harmony between different religions and within religions, discriminate against or insult religious or non-religious citizens, promote religious extremism, or violate the principle of independence and self-management of religions must resolutely not be permitted for publication and distribution.

宗教出版物是开展宗教教学、宗教研究和满足信教公民宗教生活需要的重要载体，务必严格把关审核。一是完善宗教组织内部资料印刷制度。宗教组织印刷内部资料，只能在宗教内部交流，不得在社会上流通售卖，不能盈利赚钱。各级宗教事务部门要严格审查资料内容，严格监督流通发行，坚决打击非法行为。二是建立涉宗教内容公开出版物审查制度。按照出版物管理条例，宗教工作部门要对公开出版的涉宗教内容出版书籍进行认真审查、严格把关，对不符合历史事实、破坏信教公民与不信教公民和睦相处、破坏不同宗教之间和睦以及宗教内部和睦、歧视侮辱信教公民或者不信教公民、宣扬宗教极端主义、违背宗教的独立自主自办原则的书籍，坚决不许出版发行。

4. Constructing a Guarantee of Institutional Accountability for Responsibility: Strengthening Oversight and Inspection

四、构建完善的责任追究的制度保障：加强监督检查

Promoting the Sinicization of religion is a systematic project with a wide scope of work and involving many departments. It is necessary to strengthen organizational leadership, consolidate work responsibilities, strictly enforce accountability, and establish long-term mechanisms to ensure that all tasks are implemented and achieve tangible results. Consolidating responsibilities and perfecting the accountability system is an effective lever for promoting the Sinicization of religion.

推进宗教中国化是一项系统工程，工作领域宽，涉及部门多，必须加强组织领导，压实工作责任，严格责任追究，建立长效机制，确保各项任务落到实处、取得实效。压实责任、完善责任追究制度是推动宗教中国化的有效抓手。

First, establish a system for rectifying religious style. Set up a religious style work committee within religious bodies. Religious personnel who hold incorrect political attitudes, have extremely poor religious attainments, exhibit improper religious style, or violate religious doctrines and canons should be promptly removed from the ranks of religious personnel in accordance with laws and regulations, purifying the organization and maintaining the good image of religious circles.

首先，建立教风整饬制度。设立宗教团体教风工作委员会，对那些政治态度不正确、宗教造诣极差、教风不正以及违背教规教义的宗教教职人员，应及时依法依规剔除出宗教教职人员队伍，纯洁组织，维护宗教界的良好形象。

Second, establish an inspection system for religious work. First, religious affairs departments at the provincial, municipal, and county levels should establish religious work inspection teams in accordance with the law, dividing areas of responsibility. They should conduct regular and irregular supervision and inspection of religious activities within their jurisdiction, promptly report problems found to relevant departments for legal handling, and may list major issues and situations for supervision or handle them at a higher level. Second, incorporate religious work into the key work supervision content of each province, using the supervision system to oversee illegal religious organizations and key individuals, and hold accountable the management departments of Party committees and governments and relevant responsible persons who are derelict in their duties, in accordance with the law. Third, when religious circles violate policies and regulations, it is necessary to dare to take a firm stand, strictly manage, and handle matters according to law, effectively changing the lax and soft phenomenon in religious management, and effectively safeguarding the dignity of the law.

其次，建立宗教工作稽查制度。一是省市县宗教事务部门应依法成立宗教工作稽查队伍，分片包干，对辖区内的宗教活动进行定期不定期督导检查，发现问题及时反馈给相关部门进行依法处置，对重大问题重大情况可以挂牌督办或者提级办理。二是将宗教工作纳入各省的重点工作大督查内容，利用大督查系统对违规违法的宗教组织和骨干人物进行督办，对失职渎职的党委政府的管理部门和相关责任人依法追究责任。三是对宗教界违反政策法规的行为，要敢于亮剑，严格管理，依法处置，切实转变宗教管理宽松软的现象，切实维护法律尊严。

Again, establish an accountability system for religious work. Discipline inspection commissions and organization departments at all levels shall, in accordance with intra-Party regulations and laws and regulations, strictly handle, according to Party discipline and national law, units, principal responsible persons, and directly responsible persons who fail to implement responsibilities or act as protective umbrellas for illegal activities.

再次，建立宗教工作责任追究制度。各级纪委、组织部门依照党内规定和法律法规，对责任落实不到位、充当违法保护伞的单位、主要负责人及直接责任人，按照党纪国法严格处理。

Adhering to the direction of the Sinicization of religion in China is the only way for the healthy development of religion. Facing this systematic project of overall linkage, we should construct an institutional system including the system of ideological guidance, the system for building the contingent of religious personnel, the system for managing religious affairs according to law, and the perfect accountability system. This will provide a strong guarantee for promoting the Sinicization of religion and promote the implementation and effectiveness of the Sinicization of religion.

坚持我国宗教中国化方向是宗教健康发展的必由之路，面对这样一个整体联动的系统性工程，应通过构建思想引领制度、宗教教职人员队伍建设制度、依法管理宗教事务的制度、完善的责任追究制度等制度体系，为助推宗教中国化提供强有力的保障，推动宗教中国化的落地生效。

Online Editor: Cai Hong

网络编辑：彩虹