Joint Circular No. 04/2014/TTLT-BVHTTDL-BNV guiding the implementation of civilized living habits at places of worship and religious establishments

JOINT CIRCULAR

Guidelines for practicing civilized behavior at religious and belief establishments

religious and belief establishments

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Pursuant to the Cultural Heritage Law dated June 29, 2001 and the Law Amending and Supplementing Certain Provisions of the Cultural Heritage Law dated June 18, 2009;

Pursuant to the Ordinance on Beliefs and Religions dated June 18, 2004;

Pursuant to Decree No. 103/2009/NĐ-CP dated November 6, 2009 of the Government promulgating the Regulation on cultural activities and public cultural service business operations;

Pursuant to Decree No. 92/2012/NĐ-CP dated November 8, 2012 of the Government detailing and providing implementation measures for the Ordinance on Beliefs and Religions;

Pursuant to Decree No. 76/2013/NĐ-CP dated July 16, 2013 of the Government stipulating functions, tasks, powers, and organizational structure of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism;

Pursuant to Decree No. 61/2012/NĐ-CP dated August 10, 2012, promulgated by the Government stipulating the functions, tasks, powers, and organizational structure of the Ministry of Home Affairs;

The Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Minister of Home Affairs issue this Joint Circular guiding the practice of civilized behavior at religious and belief establishments.

Article 1. Scope of Regulation

This Joint Circular guides the practice of civilized behavior at religious and belief establishments within the territory of Vietnam. Activities related to worship at ancestral halls and family temples are not subject to the provisions of this Joint Circular.

Article 2. Applicability

This Joint Circular applies to organizations and individuals from Vietnam and foreign organizations and individuals participating in or related to activities at religious and belief establishments within the territory of Vietnam.

Article 3. Principles for practicing civilized behavior at religious and belief establishments

Organizations and individuals participating in or related to activities at religious and belief establishments must comply with the following principles:

1. Ensuring the freedom of belief and religion for all people; respecting the cultural and moral values of religions; ensuring the solemnity and dignity of religious and belief establishments.

2. Not exploiting religious and belief activities to undermine the State, cause religious and ethnic discord; disrupt public security and order, violate laws and local regulations.

3. Worship and tour activities at religious and belief establishments must ensure the safety of life and property of participants and the establishment; comply with environmental protection regulations.

4. Money and assets donated, contributed, or sponsored to religious and belief establishments must be managed and used for their intended purposes, transparently, and publicly.

Article 4. Responsibilities of religious and belief establishments

1. Ensuring solemnity and dignity; having diagrams indicating positions within structures of religious and belief establishments.

2. Providing appropriate information introducing the history, architectural value, and artistic culture of religious and belief establishments.

3. Establishing rules and regulations for visitors and participants in religious and belief activities to ensure public security and order, environmental hygiene, appropriate attire, and culturally respectful behavior consistent with national customs and traditions; specifying locations for depositing and receiving donations and offerings.

Promoting awareness among visitors and participants in religious and belief activities not to engage in buying and selling, setting off firecrackers, releasing sky lanterns, performing superstitious and illegal activities, gambling, and other violations of the law.

4. Arranging waste storage areas, toilets, and convenient services to ensure environmental hygiene and prevent fires according to legal regulations.

5. For religious and belief establishments that are historical-cultural relics or scenic spots, they shall comply with legal regulations on cultural heritage and relevant laws.

6. Strictly adhering to legal regulations concerning the restoration, upgrading, and construction of religious and belief structures.

7. Organizing propaganda and guidance on practicing civilized behavior at religious and belief establishments; preserving and promoting traditional culture and good customs; conducting religious and belief activities in accordance with legal regulations on beliefs and religions and relevant laws.

8. Proactively coordinating with local authorities and social organizations in maintaining public security and order, preventing crime, and addressing social evils.

Article 5. Responsibilities of the person in charge (head monk/priest), Management Board of religious belief premises, religious premises (if any)

1. Guide visitors and participants in religious belief activities, religious activities to comply with legal regulations; follow internal rules and regulations of the religious belief premises, religious premises.

2. Protect, maintain order, landscape, environment, and promote the historical and cultural value of religious belief premises, religious premises in accordance with legal provisions.

When the landscape or environment is at risk of being harmed or damaged, timely measures must be taken to prevent it and report to the competent state authorities as prescribed by law.

3. Coordinate with local authorities to organize the reasonable arrangement of services for visitors and participants in religious belief activities, religious activities; do not organize or allow others to organize superstitious, unscientific activities and violations of the law.

4. Organize propaganda and guidance for all individuals within religious belief premises, religious premises and visitors, participants in religious belief activities, religious activities to implement civilized lifestyles as stipulated in this Circular.

5. Bear responsibility under the law for religious belief activities taking place at the premises.

Article 6. Responsibilities of visitors, participants in religious belief activities, religious activities

1. Strictly comply with legal regulations; internal rules and regulations of religious belief premises, religious premises; implement civilized lifestyles when participating in activities at the premises.

2. Respect everyone and ensure the solemnity of religious belief premises, religious premises. Dress neatly, appropriately, in accordance with ethnic customs and traditions.

3. Maintain hygiene, security, and order; protect the landscape and environment at religious belief premises, religious premises.

4. Place offerings, donations in designated locations.

5. Do not organize or participate in superstitious, unscientific activities, gambling, and other illegal acts.

Article 7. Implementation of civilized management and use of donation funds

1. The person in charge (head monk/priest), Management Board of religious belief premises, religious premises (if any) must have effective methods of collecting, managing, and using donation funds for their intended purposes, ensuring unity and solidarity among individuals within religious belief premises, religious premises.

2. The management and use of donation funds must be transparent, with clear records and transparent expenditures.

3. The management and use of donation funds must comply with the provisions of this Joint Circular and other relevant legal regulations.

Article 8. Implementation organization

1. The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism shall be responsible for:

a) Taking the lead and coordinating with the Ministry of Home Affairs to direct, inspect, and supervise the implementation of civilized lifestyles at religious belief premises, religious premises as stipulated in this Joint Circular and compile reports to the Government as required;

b) Coordinating with the Ministry of Information and Communications in directing media organizations to publicize the implementation of civilized lifestyles at religious belief premises, religious premises as stipulated in this Joint Circular;

c) Directing provincial Departments of Culture, Sports and Tourism to perform tasks specified in Clause 4 of this Article.

2. The Ministry of Home Affairs shall be responsible for:

a) Coordinating with the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism in directing, inspecting, and supervising the implementation of civilized lifestyles at religious belief premises, religious premises as stipulated in this Joint Circular;

b) Directing provincial Departments of Home Affairs (Religious Affairs Department) in guiding the implementation of civilized lifestyles at religious premises.

3. People's Committees at all levels shall be responsible for:

a) Directing the organization of the implementation of civilized lifestyles at religious belief premises, religious premises in their locality, disseminating state policies, laws, and local regulations on religious belief activities; guiding religious belief premises, religious premises in their jurisdiction to build civilized lifestyles and comply with legal regulations;

b) Ensuring the maintenance of security and order, and environmental landscapes at religious belief premises, religious premises;

c) Directing specialized agencies of the People's Committee to organize inspections and supervision of the implementation of civilized lifestyles at religious belief premises, religious premises in their jurisdiction.

4. Provincial Departments of Culture, Sports and Tourism shall take the lead and coordinate with provincial Departments of Home Affairs in implementing the following tasks:

a) Guiding religious belief premises, religious premises to establish internal rules and regulations aimed at implementing civilized lifestyles at the premises;

b) Publicizing and disseminating regulations on the implementation of civilized lifestyles at religious belief premises, religious premises;

c) Monitoring and regularly reporting to the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, the Ministry of Home Affairs, and provincial People's Committees about the implementation of civilized lifestyles at religious belief premises, religious premises in their jurisdiction.

Article 9. Effective Date

1. This Circular takes effect from July 15, 2014.

2. In the course of implementation, if there are difficulties or obstacles, they should be reported to the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, the Ministry of Home Affairs for consideration and resolution./.