Taiwan Church News 3334 Edition January 18 -24, 2016 Church Ministry International Scholars Visit Taiwan To Evaluate Religious Groups ActReported by Lin Yi-ying In order to understand the stances of Taiwan religious groups toward the imminent legislature of Religious Groups Act and facilitate international societydrafting a future religious bill for their own specific country, Institute for Global Engagement(IGE) invited many religious scholars and university professors from Hungary, Italy, Argentine, UK, Australia, Spain, US, China and South Korea to visit Taiwan's major religious groups from January 13 to 15. These religious scholars visited PCT, Catholics, I-Kuan Tao and the Taipei Vaihara of Fo Guan Shan Buddhism and held a seminar with the officials of the Ministry of Interior. In the afternoon on January 13, IGE's scholars visited PCT's General Assembly Office and well received by Rev. Lyim Hong-tiong, PCT General Secretary, and his two associates, Rev. Cheng Yin-er and Dr. Hsu Victor Wan-chi. Elder Lee Seng-hsiung, PCT's legal counselor, explained to these scholars Taiwan's legislature process of Religious Groups Act and how Taiwan's civil laws regulate business corporations, and especially non-profit organizations like social association, financial person, religious group, hospital, school and etc. Once Religious Groups Act is passed in Taiwan's congress, the autonomy of each religious group could be fully assured, said Elder Lee. When PCT's stance toward Religious Groups Act was asked, Rev. Lyim Hong-tiong replied that a study team had been set up concerning this bill and PCT will deliver her complete comment and opinion when this bill is discussed in the imminent new congress. Rev. Lyim also confirmed a national-wide PCT organization will be set up, onceReligious Groups Act is passed, in order to solve those long-term disputes about the terms of financial offering existing in several management boards of PCT's related institutes. Translated by Peter Wolfe |