Forwarded message: Date: 96-04-09 04:39:58 EDT BEIJING, April 9 (Reuter) - Chinese Communi

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Forwarded message:
From:	AOLNewsProfiles@aol.net
Date: 96-04-09 04:39:58 EDT

          BEIJING, April 9 (Reuter) - Chinese Communist Party
officials who put aside their revolutionary zeal to pay respects
to Buddha are abusing their positions and angering the people,
the Workers' Daily said on Tuesday.

          A survey in southeastern Fujian province during China's
lunar new year in February found scores of cars used by
officials parked near mountain temples as cadres prostrated
themselves before Buddhist images within, the newspaper said in
an editorial.

          ``This is a kind of corrupt phenomenon,'' the editorial
said. ``This is an expression of loss of faith in Marxism.''

          It said officials of the atheist Communist Party who abused
their authority by using official cars to take part in
superstitious practices had filled ordinary people with
righteous indignation.

          In what appeared an attempt to shame Fujian officials into
action, the newspaper gave the registration numbers of more than
20 cars parked near the temples.

          The editorial was the Workers' Daily's second in two days to
blast wayward officials for ideological weakness.

          The editorials appear to be part of a campaign to strengthen
public morals and buttress the leading role of China's Communist
Party.

          Many Chinese say the party has lost much of its authority as
cadres rush to enrich themselves in the newly liberalised
economy and join the resurgence of interest in religion.
^REUTER@