Officials in Hebei province in northern China have sent religious organizations a notice that from now on they will have to comply with new stricter regulations. The chairman of one Catholic parish council told ucanews.com he considered the demand a serious violation of people’s rights.

The “Template for a Charter on Legal People in Religious Activity Venues” was released only recently.

The document says it intends to hold venues staging religious activities to the highest standards in accordance with the “General Provisions of the Civil Law of the People’s Republic of China”, the “Regulations of Religious Affairs” and the “Notice of State Administration of Religious Affairs and Ministry of Civil Affairs on the Issue of Applying for Legal Personnel at Religious Activity Venues.”

It requires all venues to formulate charters detailing their activities and include an extra section giving examples of actual situations.
The template sent to religious groups is highly detailed in its demands.