With nearly 100 million Christians, the Church is the largest social force in China not controlled by the Communist Party. As a result, there are increasing efforts to restrict the way Christians operate. A considerable number of Christians are still imprisoned. Church meetings continue to be disrupted in several provinces. Churches have also been closed and landlords pressured to stop renting to Christians. In 2017 some of China’s underground churches were pushed to join the state-controlled Three-Self Patriotic Movement, while a new law on religion is being rolled out in 2018.
China expels hundreds of South Koreans from North Korean border region
Hundreds of South Korean Christians, including church leaders, have been sent home in the last year by three provincial governments in north-eastern China in a move that is seen to be part of the implementation of a new set of rules to control religious activities. There are thought to be […]
China: state-sanctioned Church says new regulations will ‘strengthen Christianity’
China’s new regulations on religious affairs, passed last month, are a “major event for Chinese Christianity, [as] they clarify Christianity’s role and strengthen her constructions”, according to the two organisations that comprise the state-sanctioned Church in China. The China Christian Council and Three-Self Patriotic Movement, which form the ‘lianghui’ (two […]
‘Uncontrolled’ growth of Christianity in China ‘makes government nervous’
China’s Communist Party is threatened by the “uncontrolled growth of Christianity” in the country –estimated by some to reach 247 million by 2030, “making it the world’s largest congregation” – and China’s thriving underground churches can therefore expect a backlash, writes Eugene K. Chow for The Diplomat. Chow describes how […]
Chinese priest jailed for stealing was framed, say supporters
A prominent Chinese priest sentenced to 18 months in prison for stealing money from a retirement home was framed by government officials, his supporters have claimed. Government-approved Fr. Fei Jisheng, from the province of Liaoning in north-east China, was sentenced by a court in the city of Gaizhou, along with […]
Chinese bishop who disappeared in April resurfaces in Beijing hospital
The Chinese Bishop of Wenzhou, Peter Shao Zhumin, has resurfaced in a Beijing hospital reportedly to undergo ear surgery, after he was taken away from his diocese by security officials in April. According to the Catholic news site UCAN the bishop re-appeared via the social media app WeChat, through which […]
China passes new religious regulations ‘to prevent extremism’
China has passed a new set of rules regulating religious affairs, a year after the proposed amendments were released to the public for the first time. The new rules, announced yesterday, show no significant alterations to last year’s proposals, though there is noticeably less detail given regarding those who will be […]
China bans children – and their teachers – from churches
Unofficial estimates say that there are close to 100 million Christians in China, more than are members of its Communist Party, due to hold its 19th five-yearly National Congress in mid-October. But in several provinces, children were banned from attending Christian camps over the summer holidays while notices were issued […]
Are Chinese Christians persecuted?
According to Richard Mouw, Christians in China are not facing increased persecution as much as a growing pressure to conform to Beijing’s policies. In an article for the Religion News Service, he writes that, after years of travelling to and within China, he has observed that “friendliness toward religion has […]
Jailed Chinese pastor ‘close to death following torture’
A popular Chinese pastor serving a 12-year jail sentence has been tortured in prison and is reportedly close to death. Pastor Zhang Shaojie of Nanle County Church in Henan Province is “barely alive”, according to his daughter, Esther Zhang Huixin. She told the US-based rights charity China Aid he is […]
German ambassador makes rare criticism of China over religious freedom
The German ambassador to China has made an official request that the Beijing government release Peter Shao Zhumin, the bishop of Wenzhou, reports Asia News. It is thought to be the first request of this kind made to China in 10 years. In his official statement on his embassy’s website […]