How are Communist Party Members Violating Spiritual, Belief, and Religious Regulations Handled?
Pursuant to Article 33 of Regulation No. 181-QD/TW in 2013 on the disciplinary action for violations committed by Communist Party members issued by the Central Executive Committee, the provisions are as follows:
1. A Communist Party member who commits one of the following violations causing minor consequences shall be disciplined with a reprimand:
a) Knowing but failing to take measures to educate, prevent the spouse or children living in the family from participating in illegal religious organizations or engaging in unauthorized missionary work.
b) Superstitious to the point of fanaticism: consulting fortune-tellers, drawing lots, reading horoscopes, asking monks or shamans to expel ghosts and engaging in other superstitions and prejudices. Burning votive offerings in large quantities.
c) Engaging in acts of coercion or hindrance against the lawful religious or spiritual activities of others.
2. In cases where the violation has been disciplined according to Clause 1 of this Article and is repeated, or the first-time violation causes serious consequences, or one of the following cases applies, disciplinary action shall be taken in the form of a warning or dismissal (if holding a position):
a) Independently joining a religion or taking on religious dignitary roles without reporting to and seeking opinions from the cell and directly managing Party organization, or having reported but not yet received written consent from competent Party organizations.
b) Discriminating on grounds of belief or religion in any form.
c) Organizing, campaigning, enticing, inciting, coercing, threatening others to participate or self-engaging in illegal religious activities.
d) Participating in religious organizations that have not been authorized to operate. Violating citizens' rights to freedom of belief and religion, negatively affecting national unity, and the good cultural traditions of the nation.
e) Shielding or assisting superstitious activities in festivals; taking advantage of beliefs and religions in any form for profit.
3. In cases where violations of Clauses 1 and 2 of this Article cause very serious consequences, or in any of the following cases, disciplinary action shall take the form of expulsion:
a) Organizing incitement to divide the unity between religions domestically and internationally.
b) Engaging in superstitions, practicing as a spirit medium, shaman, fortune-teller, or geomancer for profit or other purposes.
c) Exploiting the right to religious freedom to undermine peace, independence, and national unification; inciting violence or propagating war, propagating against State policy and law.
d) Exploiting the right to religious freedom to divide the people, divide ethnic groups, religions; disturb public order, infringe upon life, health, dignity, honor, assets of organizations, individuals; obstructing the exercise of citizens' rights and obligations.
e) Presiding over, participating in, supporting, or abetting individuals or organizations in establishing or constructing new temples, pagodas, shrines, altars, or religious worship facilities without permission from competent state authorities.
The above outlines the regulations on disciplinary action for Communist Party members violating spiritual, belief, and religious terms. For better understanding of this issue, further reference should be made to Regulation No. 181-QD/TW in 2013.
Sincerely!
