NLA passes Sangha Act amendment bill

[webfact]

NLA passes Sangha Act amendment bill 

 

 

BANGKOK: -- The National Legislative Assembly (NLA) on Thursday passed an amendment of the Sangha Act, paving the way to return power to the King to appoint the Supreme Patriarch. 

 

The NLA took just one hour to pass the bill in three consecutive readings with a final vote of 182, and 6 abstentions.

 

In essence, the amendment revises the current Act by giving the monarch discretion to select the candidate for the country’s top ecclesiastical post. 

 

Full story: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/news/national/30303081

 

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[Eric Loh]

Slippery slope keeps getting steeper. Poor timing to pass this act too. 

[smutcakes]

Wow that was quick for such a contentious issue. Only saw it even mentioned in the news this morning, and a few hours later the NLA have nearly unanimously approved it after only an hour debate.

 

 

[Wilsonandson]

Quote:-

The move could provoke protests by the monkhood as Phra Methee Dhamma-chan warned that Buddhist organisations across Thailand would stage protests if the NLA went ahead with the change to the law.

End quote

The protests begin.

 

[smutcakes]

I presume Buddha Issara will be in the running for the top spot. Either that or one of his choice of 'Good' people.

 

Maybe even Buddha Suthep!

 

[billd766]

If the SSC were doing a proper job in the first place at de-frocking all the troublesome monks and abbots and turning them over to the police perhaps would not be needed.

 

Instead of (Buggin's turn next) where the abbot who has served the longest gets promoted at 70 to 80 years old, the SSC should promote the abbot who has worked the hardest and done the most for Thai Buddhism.

[yellowboat]

2 hours ago, smutcakes said:

Wow that was quick for such a contentious issue. Only saw it even mentioned in the news this morning, and a few hours later the NLA have nearly unanimously approved it after only an hour debate.

 

 

Part of that was probably waiting for coffee or the rubber stamp ran out of ink again.  Church and State: there are some good examples as to how they should not influence each other.

[Srikcir]

4 hours ago, webfact said:

giving the monarch discretion to select the candidate for the country’s top ecclesiastical post. 

Buck passing by Prayut.

[smutcakes]

3 minutes ago, Srikcir said:

Buck passing by Prayut.

 

i very much doubt it will be the Monarch making the selection, more likely General Prem and his men.

 

Lets hope they use it as an opportunity to clean up the errant monks, rather than just an opportunity to get 'their' trusted monks in power. 

[edwinchester]

4 hours ago, Srikcir said:

Buck passing by Prayut.

Reading Bangkok Post it says that the Prime Minister selects the candidate who is then rubber stamped by the King.