On the whole, the new government so far has not properly handled its relations with religious groups. The new government, especially its upper eschelons, needs the right thinking to develop proper relationships while separating politics from religion. Since President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) took office, he has visited several important religious leaders, each time advocating different values depending on which group is hosting him. On the surface, the moves suggest respect for different religions, but are intended more as efforts to seek alliance and support. As controversy over a "direct religious link" to China for Matsu pilgrims becomes a political wrestling match, the inability of the new government to separate politics from religion has led to a crisis.

The previous KMT government had a bad record in terms of divorcing politics from religion. The party regarded religion as a social resource capable of being manipulated. After martial law ended and Taiwan democratized, the government gradually stopped its suppression of certain religions. The I Kuan Tao (一貫道) religion was legalized and the New Testament Church was allowed to return to their holy Mt Zion the day before martial law was lifted in 1987. No religious groups have suffered government suppression since then. The KMT and the executive branch of the government no longer interfere in disputes involving religious groups. Rather, the judiciary takes over and handles them in accordance with explicit legal mandates. But the KMT has not given up mobilizing religious groups to consolidate its power. To befriend religious groups and win their support, high-ranking officials have attended important religious activities in official capacities -- including the president, vice president, premier, Examination Yuan president, Legislative Yuan speaker, and minister of the interior.

The new government has not clearly defined their policies toward religious groups. Although Chen presented concrete religious policies in his white paper during the presidential election campaign, his administration has not yet implemented them. If we examine his white paper, we can see the legacy of the KMT regime in its basic concepts. Certain adjustments are needed before they are carried out as official policies.

After Chen's inauguration, he visited several the leaders of various denominations, ranging from Buddhism and Christianity, to I Kuan Tao, as well as Master Miao Tien (妙天). During his visits, Chen quoted the different religious doctrines to interpret government policies and his political philosophy. Religious values preached by our president, however, have varied according to the places he has visited.

Chen once said Taiwan can improve cross-strait relations with Buddhist doctrines. But can't we also do it with the doctrines of other religions? If other religions can help, which religion offers the greatest help? Perhaps we should deal with political issue based on the doctrines of not just one, but several religions? Chen has not realized the need to separate religion from politics as he is too eager to please religious groups. For their part, religious groups have not realized that religion should transcend political matters, as some of their leaders still dream of enjoying political glory.

Religious citizens should have the same rights as those who are not. As current laws prohibit direct links, religious followers should be no exception to these regulations. The direct religious pilgrimage of Matsu has become highly politicized. Its major advocates are actually politicians who claim to represent religious groups. They obviously advocate direct pilgrimage out of political considerations. The fact that legislators supporting the direct pilgrimage are all from the same opposition party reveals that their motives are anything but religious. Some legislators vowed to join the direct pilgrimage, not because they want to be martyrs, but to protest the government's policy.

It is easy for the new government to fall into a political crisis when it cannot see through the nature of such problems. Chen promised during his election campaign to promote the direct pilgrimage. This is a case-in-point to the problems faced by the new administration in making good their pre-election campaign promises, as well as an important lesson for all those to who recklessly make campaign promises.

The new government does not handle religious affairs with clearly defined policies because they have not observed proper restraint. Cabinet members who handle religious affairs, the president, vice president and the premier, should realize the propriety of separating religion from politics and establish the right framework for the relationship.

Chiu Hei-yuan is the director of the Institute of Sociology at the Academia Sinica, and a professor of sociology at National Taiwan University.