Bangkok: "Suchart" has announced plans to expedite the enactment of legislation aimed at safeguarding Buddhism, with an expected timeline for clarity within 3-4 months.
According to Thai News Agency, Senator Prinya Wongcherdkwan emphasized the urgent need for government intervention to address the ongoing crisis of faith within the Buddhist community. He cited issues such as senior monks engaging in inappropriate relationships and drug use, which have significantly undermined the religion's credibility in Thailand. Senator Prinya urged for a more proactive approach to remove corrupt elements from the monkhood and restore the faith of the Thai people.
During a Senate meeting chaired by Mongkol Surassajja, the President of the Senate, the agenda focused on a crisis of faith in Buddhism. Prinya addressed a question to the Prime Minister, which was answered by Suchart Tancharoen, Minister Attached to the Prime Minister's Office. Prinya highlighted the historical and current issues plaguing the monkhood, including misconduct by high-ranking monks. He stressed the importance of temples as spiritual refuges, especially during economic hardships, and advocated for more female advocates like "Sika Golf" to expose unethical monks.
Suchart responded by acknowledging the severity of the situation and the damage it has caused to Buddhists. He indicated that while the suggestion of increasing the number of female advocates to tackle the issue is impractical, there are other methods to address the problem. The Office of Buddhism has been directed to adopt a proactive approach in monitoring temple activities and addressing misconduct within the monkhood.
Furthermore, Suchart stated that current legal frameworks do not adequately address the misconduct of monks, particularly concerning sexual relations and financial mismanagement. He announced the drafting of the Sangha Act to impose stricter penalties, including imprisonment and fines for monks violating religious precepts. Additionally, laywomen involved in such misconduct may also face legal action under other criminal laws.
Suchart also mentioned that the Sangha Supreme Council has implemented new regulations on temple donations, effective from October 1. These regulations require temples to deposit donations into local bank accounts and limit cash holdings to 100,000 baht. This measure is aimed at curbing financial mismanagement and increasing transparency within temples.