China plans to publish lists of sanctioned religious venues, to 'root out illegal religious activities'

China's official Xinhua news agency reported on Saturday that the government will publish names and addresses for "all (sanctioned) Buddhist and Taoist venues" over the next two years, in order to weed out "illegal religious activities."

Reuters notes that certain other religions are also allowed, so long as the services include an expression of loyalty to the Chinese government. Authorities call unsanctioned religious movements cults, and groups such as the Falun Gong church, which opposes the Communist Party, are banned by Beijing.

China maintains "reasonable practitioners" should have no problem with its religious policy.

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