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NEWS | EASTERN HORIZON 63

Thailand Embarks on

Nationwide Inquiry into

the Sangha

The Buddhist Channel, 24 July 2025

Bangkok, Thailand -- In a move
to restore the sanctity of Thai
Buddhism, the Thai government
has launched the “Buddhist
Purification Campaign,” a
comprehensive investigation
into the nation’s 300,000
monks. This initiative, far from
a mere crackdown, signals an
effort to reform the Sangha,
addressing deep-rooted issues
that have shaken public faith in
one of Thailand’s most revered
institutions.

A Response to Growing Concerns
For years, Thai Buddhism has
Adding to these concerns, lax A Multifaceted Investigation
faced mounting challenges that
oversight of the Sangha registry The Buddhist Purification
have eroded trust among devotees.
has allowed foreign nationals and Campaign is a bold, multi-pronged
Reports of sexual misconduct,
fugitives to don robes to evade effort to address these issues.
financial impropriety, and the rise
justice, while some temples have The newly established Buddhist
of fringe spiritual movements have
become conduits for money Clergy Investigation Unit (BCIU),
cast a shadow over the Sangha.
laundering and tax evasion. comprising police and anti-

money laundering officials, is
High-profile scandals, such as the
Monks frequenting casinos and spearheading the probe. Key areas
“Golf Case” involving 19 senior
red-light districts in places like of focus include:
monks in sexual exploitation
Macau and Cambodia, alongside
and extortion, and the misuse of
self-proclaimed “reincarnations Identity and Background:
millions in donations at temples
of the Buddha” amassing wealth Verifying the authenticity of
like Wat Samphanthawongsaram,
through private centers, have monks’ registrations, checking for
have sparked widespread outrage.
further fueled disillusionment. criminal records, and identifying
The Thai monarchy’s revocation of
unauthorized foreign monks.
81 monastic titles underscores the

gravity of the crisis.