The Pope, the Party and the Cardinal: Catholicism in China

The Pope, the Party and the Cardinal: Catholicism in China

Chinese police have launched a Christmas crackdown against Christians — arresting a prominent pastor, raiding churches and charging followers with ‘subverting the state’.

It’s all part of an effort to bring the religion under Chinese Communist Party control. While the party itself is officially atheist, it allows believers to attend state-sanctioned places of worship run by approved priests.

There are some 100 million Christians in China. Many worship in ‘home’ churches to avoid state interference.

In one example of the recent raids, police on Saturday stormed a children’s bible class in Guangzhou. Children are banned from attending places of worship.

In Guangzhou, 60 police stormed a church, seized religious materials and confiscated the mobile phones of worshippers.

And earlier, a prominent Sichuan pastor was arrested. His crime was openly preaching to his 800 followers, and circulating a petition against the government’s push to clampdown on religion.

CHRISTMAS CRACKDOWN

“Halfway through the children’s bible class, we heard the footsteps of dozens of police and officials stomping up the stairs,” one churchgoer said, according to the South China Morning Post.

“They read out law enforcement notices declaring our venue was an illegal gathering [that had engaged in] illegal publishing and illegal fundraising and confiscated all bibles.”

This report of a weekend raid is just one of many that have been conducted in recent weeks.

On December 9, Pastor Wang Yi of the Early Rain Covenant Church in Chengdu, Sichuan, and his wife Jiang Rong were detained. A church administrator and many of his 500 followers were raided and arrested in the following days.

All face charges of inciting subversion of state power. If convicted, they face a 15-year jail sentence.

Pastor Wang had reportedly anticipated the move, writing a letter to be released in the event of his arrest. In it, he says he was “filled with anger and disgust at the persecution of the church by this Communist regime”.

“I firmly believe that Christ has called me to carry out this faithful disobedience through a life of service, under this regime that opposes the gospel and persecutes the church,” he wrote. As a pastor of a Christian church, I must denounce this wickedness openly and severely. The calling that I have received requires me to use nonviolent methods to disobey those human laws that disobey the Bible and God.”

At the weekend, a group of 60 or so of his followers attempted to gather in a nearby park for a worship service. They were arrested.

‘APPROVED’ WORSHIP

In February, the Chinese Communist Party officially announced regulations to “preserve Chinese culture and party authority against ideological threats”.

The ensuing crackdown against Muslim and Christian congregations is seen as part of this campaign.

Some one million Uigher Muslim ethnic group members in Xinjian province have been forcibly detained in ‘re-education’ centres.

And Beijing has moved to seize control of the Catholic Church in China, while restricting protestant worship to the Communist Party approved and run “Three-Self Patriotic Movement” of churches. These use a version of the bible rewritten to conform with state dogma.

One anonymous underground church member told the BBC that the idea of the state-run churches was “hilarious”, adding that they “don’t spread genuine gospel, but spread the thoughts of loving the Party, loving the country”.

Another anonymous member of the Early Rain church told the BBC the raids would not defeat worshippers. Instead, they’d just go further underground to celebrate Christmas.

“We will continue the gathering. The church is shut down so it’s impossible to have a big gathering, but there will be small gatherings on Sunday and on Christmas Day,” he said.

A common report following such raids is that congregation members find Communist Party officials knocking at their doors, demanding they sign documents declaring they have left the faith and withdrawn their children from church-run schools.

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One Early Rain Covenant follower told the BBC several worshippers were “under house arrest or are followed all the time”.

“On Sunday, some members tried to gather at other places for worship, but got taken away as well,” she said. “The Church building has been manned with police and plainclothes officers, not allowing anyone to enter to do worship service.”

It’s a scene being repeated across the country, with unofficial church doors being sealed, bibles and religious icons confiscated, and names-and-addresses being taken down.

STATE PERSECUTION

In September, one of the largest ‘underground’ churches in Beijing was forcibly shut down.

The Zion Church had 1500 members. It’s leadership had refused a Communist Party demand to install surveillance cameras in all places of worship.

Earlier this month, another Beijing place of worship — the Catholic Cathedral of the Immaculate — was shut down indefinitely. Despite a heavy police presence, the official reason given was “for repairs”.

Some Chinese Catholics fear the move was “a veiled attempt to hamper Christmas celebrations, which attract thousands of people, even non-Christians,” Asia News reports.

The closure came as Pope Francis bowed to Communist Party pressure, recognising two previously excommunicated state-backed bishops as the valid heads of Chinese dioceses.

The Vatican had previously been in conflict with Beijing over a group of Pope-approved bishops who refuse to recognise the authority of the Communist Party over their religion. But, last year, it ‘requested’ several key dissident bishops step down.

Chinese state media has announced the Communist Party-approved Bishop Zhan Silu is to become head of Mindong Diocese. Vatican-appointed Bishop Guo Xijin, who has headed the diocese since 2006 and who has been detained by authorities a number of times in the past year, has agreed to step down.

State-backed Bishop Huang Bingzhang becomes head of Shantou Diocese. The fate of the prior Bishop, Zhuang Jianjian, 88, remains unknown. The same applies to up to 30 other Catholic bishops who have so far refused to join the Communist Party’s patriotic association.

“The mission now is to unite Catholics in the diocese and reduce divergence so as to achieve the common goal of better serving church members,” Bishop Huang told Chinese state-run media.

The Global Times quoted an expert on Catholic studies at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences as saying there may also be changes to church property ownerships and diocese distribution, adding that such talks would be “complicated and time-consuming.”

“It’s up to the Chinese government to decide when is the right time,” Wang Meixiu said. “In recent years, the government has recognised at least six underground bishops which it hadn’t formerly recognised. Therefore, acknowledgment from the government is possible.”

CULTURE CLASH

President Xi Jinping’ is determined to “Sinicize” all of China. “Chinese characteristics” must be incorporated into all activities, beliefs and traditions. Chief among them — unwavering loyalty to the Communists party.

“China isn’t backing away from the religious persecution; it seems to be expanding,” said Sam Brownback, the US ambassador international religious freedom said last week. China has once again been listed among the US State Department’s 10 worst religious freedom violators.

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International monitoring group Human Rights Watch says the raids are further evidence of President Xi’s attempts to seize control over all aspects of Chinese society.

“As major holidays in many parts of the world — Christmas and New Year — are approaching, we call on the international community to continue to pay attention to the situation of China’s independent churches and speak against the Chinese government’s repression,” a Hong Kong-based representative wrote.

The underground churches in China have reached out to international supporters to appeal for assistance.

“Lord, look at the injustice done against your children,” reads an Early Rain prayer request shared by the China Aid ministry. “This country is trampling on the dignity of your children, but these children are the apple of your eye. You will heal these wounds with your loving hands and teach us, in the midst of this suffering, the love of God and the endurance of Christ. Lord, come quickly!”