Senior Chinese Monk Resigns Amid Sexual Misconduct Claims

Associated Press
August 15, 2018

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/aug/15/senior-chinese-monk-shi-xuecheng-resigns-sexual-misconduct-claims

The Buddhist Association of China said Shi Xuecheng’s duties had been passed to a deputy. Photograph: Wang Zhao/AFP/Getty Images

One of China’s most high-profile Buddhist monks has resigned from a national post after , a religious association has said.

The Buddhist Association of China said on Wednesday its president, Shi Xuecheng, had passed his duties to a deputy.

The case, which has been covered widely in the Chinese press and discussed on social media, is seen as a sign of . A small but increasing number of academics, civil society activists and one of China’s best known television hosts have been called out for alleged inappropriate behaviour, although the movement has yet to percolate into government circles.

The announcement of Xuecheng’s resignation was included in a report about the Buddhist association’s regular meeting and did not mention the controversy surrounding him. Fellow monks accused Xuecheng earlier this year of harassing and demanding sexual favours from nuns at his Beijing monastery as well as embezzling funds, allegations that Xuecheng has denied on social media.

Xuecheng has not commented publicly on his resignation.

One of China’s best known monks and authors, Xuecheng was an influential political adviser to the central government while heading the national Buddhist association. His Longquan monastery on the north-west outskirts of Beijing is popular with educated Chinese, including many who give up highly paid jobs to devote their lives to religious study.

Two long-serving monks compiled a 95-page dossier on Xuecheng this year and turned it over to Beijing police. The document, which included alleged screenshots of his text messages to nuns and the monastery’s financial statements, was leaked on Chinese social media in July and became a national sensation. Xuecheng has dismissed the records as a fabrication.

There are about 250 million Buddhists in China. That number is likely to grow fast as a number of young Chinese are turning increasingly spiritual – embracing Taoism, Christianity and Islam as well.

The powerful state administration of religious affairs, which regulates religion under the communist government, announced an investigation into Xuecheng last week.

The agency reposted the Buddhist association’s report on its own website on Wednesday but did not carry additional comment or provide updates on its investigation.

Separately on Wednesday, lawyers representing Zhu Jun, a host on state-operated China Central Television (CCTV), said they were suing social media users who posted and recirculated allegations of harassment against him by one of his former interns.

Zhu, the host of CCTV’s Spring Festival evening gala and one of China’s most recognisable faces, denies the allegations. Zhu’s lawyers posted their intentions on the WeChat social media platform.