Religious leaders representing Buddhism, Taoism and I-Kuan Tao yesterday urged the government to pass a proposed religious groups act so that the nation’s various religious traditions and practices can be regulated by the legal system.
“In the past, the government’s attitude toward religion was to manage, rather than providing assistance. It also failed to value our contributions to society until recently … Religious groups actually need the government to assist us in becoming legal. Religion cannot exist outside the law,” Buddhist Master Ching Yao (淨耀) from the Puxian Cihai Juvenile House said at a public hearing organized by Democratic Progressive Party lawmakers Lin Chia-lung (林佳龍) and Lee Chun-yi (李俊俋) on the draft act proposed by the two lawmakers.
The existing law that governs religious groups is the Act of Temple Supervision (監督寺廟條例), which was put into effect in 1929 and concerns only Buddhism and Taoism.
Photo: Liao Chen-huei, Taipei Times
Today, there are 27 religions officially registered in Taiwan and religious devotees make up more than half the population, said Fan Kuo-kuang (范國廣), a former civil servant at the Ministry of the Interior.
Since 2000, the Executive Yuan has made four attempts to introduce new legislation on religions to the Legislative Yuan, but failed each time, National Religion Development Foundation chairman Chu Wu-hsien (朱武獻) said.
The ministry has also drafted a religious group act that is expected to be sent to the Executive Yuan for approval by the end of next month, Department of Civil Affairs Deputy Director Lin Ching-chi (林清淇) said.
Chu said the versions of the act drafted by the ministry and the two legislators were largely the same.
“The main point is to treat religious groups as juristic persons so that we can own properties and open bank accounts,” he said.
Under the proposed draft, religious organizations qualify for an exemption from income tax, and are not required to pay house or land value taxes for their properties, Fan said.
Donations to religious organizations are also exempt from inheritance, gift and land value increment taxes, Fan added.
Another benefit granted by the proposed law is that religious organizations would be allowed to purchase state-owned land that has been used for religious activities for five years or longer, Chu said.
Meanwhile, Master Ching Yao and the Taiwan Taoism Federation called for legal status for shen tan (神壇), places of worship located in private homes or buildings.
Others voiced concerns over whether the proposed legislation would be exploited for profit, with I-Kuan Tao Federation consultant Liu En-ting (劉恩廷) calling for certification of religious workers.
Taipei Taoism Association director Lin Shui-sheng (林水勝) agreed, saying: “Religious workers are professionals. Their job is to have a positive influence on people’s lives by following religious teachings and doctrines. There should be strict guidelines on how a religious worker can be approved or certified. Otherwise, the law will be harmful in the wrong hands.”
Taiwan is to receive the first batch of Lockheed Martin F-16 Block 70 jets from the US late this month, a defense official said yesterday, after a year-long delay due to a logjam in US arms deliveries. Completing the NT$247.2 billion (US$7.69 billion) arms deal for 66 jets would make Taiwan the third nation in the world to receive factory-fresh advanced fighter jets of the same make and model, following Bahrain and Slovakia, the official said on condition of anonymity. F-16 Block 70/72 are newly manufactured F-16 jets built by Lockheed Martin to the standards of the F-16V upgrade package. Republic of China
Taiwan-Japan Travel Passes are available for use on public transit networks in the two countries, Taoyuan Metro Corp said yesterday, adding that discounts of up to 7 percent are available. Taoyuan Metro, the Taipei MRT and Japan’s Keisei Electric Railway teamed up to develop the pass. Taoyuan Metro operates the Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport MRT Line, while Keisei Electric Railway offers express services between Tokyo’s Narita Airport, and the Keisei Ueno and Nippori stations in the Japanese capital, as well as between Narita and Haneda airports. The basic package comprises one one-way ticket on the Taoyuan MRT Line and one Skyliner ticket on
A new tropical storm formed late yesterday near Guam and is to approach closest to Taiwan on Thursday, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said. Tropical Storm Pulasan became the 14th named storm of the year at 9:25pm yesterday, the agency said. As of 8am today, it was near Guam traveling northwest at 21kph, it said. The storm’s structure is relatively loose and conditions for strengthening are limited, WeatherRisk analyst Wu Sheng-yu (吳聖宇) said on Facebook. Its path is likely to be similar to Typhoon Bebinca, which passed north of Taiwan over Japan’s Ryukyu Islands and made landfall in Shanghai this morning, he said. However, it
Starlux Airlines, Taiwan’s newest international carrier, has announced it would apply to join the Oneworld global airline alliance before the end of next year. In an investor conference on Monday, Starlux Airlines chief executive officer Glenn Chai (翟健華) said joining the alliance would help it access Taiwan. Chai said that if accepted, Starlux would work with other airlines in the alliance on flight schedules, passenger transits and frequent flyer programs. The Oneworld alliance has 13 members, including American Airlines, British Airways, Cathay Pacific and Qantas, and serves more than 900 destinations in 170 territories. Joining Oneworld would also help boost