Premier Sean Chen said today that Taiwan's religious organizations have made a great contribution to social harmony and national development. He especially lauded their disaster relief efforts, noting they reach out to everyone who is in need, believers and non-believers alike, and show great compassion in rescue and reconstruction work.
The premier also praised these organizations for continuously adapting to meet the needs of the times, as the philosopher Zhuangzi counseled. He cited their proactive responses to global climate change, including environmentally friendly reforms to traditions like the burning of paper money, candles and incense. He also noted the harmony they bring by valuing the fulfillment of duty in worldly affairs coupled with disinterest in worldly power.
Chen spoke these words at the Ministry of the Interior's award ceremony for religious organizations. He said he was very grateful for the opportunity to share in the joy and glory of such a dynamic ceremony with them. "Today, we are honoring the religious groups which go out of their way to not be known. I hope the Ministry of the Interior continues to offer them support and encouragement," he remarked.
The minds and hearts of religious leaders can be easily seen in the many dialogues between them in recent years, Chen said. He predicted they will make the perspectives of people across society more balanced and could move hearts and change social customs.
Later, the premier conferred plaques and medals inscribed with "awaken compassion and teach righteousness" to the 33 religious groups that won an Executive Yuan award, including the Dalongdong Baoan Temple in Taipei.
Seven times more religious groups won an Executive Yuan award this year than last year, according to the Ministry of the Interior. Another 255 received awards from the ministry, which noted that donations to charity and philanthropy funds and social enlightenment programs have reached NT$2.76 billion (US$92 million) so far this year, and that figure does not include the manpower and materials put to charitable use, which are immeasurable.