Bush Worried About China Bible Arrest

AP ^ | 1/7/02

[truthandlife]

The State Department is seeking an explanation from China about the reported arrest of a Hong Kong businessman for shipping Bibles to a Christian group.

President Bush is deeply concerned about the reports, State Department spokesman Richard Boucher said Monday.

The businessman, Li Guangqiang, 38, was indicted in the southeastern city of Fuqing on charges that he brought thousands of Bibles to the underground Christian group on the mainland, a human rights organization said Saturday.

The court in Fuqing said Li had "used a cult to undermine the enforcement of the law," the Hong Kong-based Information Center for Human Rights and Democracy said. It said Li might face the death penalty.

Li was accused of taking 33,080 Bibles to the Shouters Sect in two trips last April and May. Two members of the Christian group, Yu Zhudi and Lin Xifu, who made the request for the Bibles, were also indicted, the rights group said.

The Shouters Sect was banned in 1995 as an "aberrant religious organization," according to the human rights group Amnesty International.

The State Department is looking into the reports at Bush's request and has registered its concerns with the Chinese Embassy in Washington as well as with Chinese authorities in Beijing, Boucher said.

The spokesman noted Bush had expressed concern about religious freedom in China to President Jiang Zemin at a meeting of Pacific nations last October in Shanghai.

[Saundra Duffy]

This is truly frightening. Let's pray for justice to prevail and for God's Word to go forth. For victory & freedom!!!

[Post Toasties]

I think this calls for a bible drop on Tiananmen Square.

[newgeezer]

I hope this is more than a bone from the Bush White House to us Christians who helped get him elected. But, I'll be truly shocked if it is.

China is not only autonomous, but also -- and, more importantly -- a huge market (at least, we hope so) for U.S. business. For now, the almightly dollar trumps the "human rights" argument every time.

[Sender]

Something is fuqing rotten in Fuqing.

[One More Time]

bump

[Artist]

I like to see him concerned about Pastor Gong Shengliang too: Chinese Christian Pastor to be Executed

[shaggy eel]

,,, when you think about some of the things run thru China/HKG, this really says it all about Red China, doesn't it. The Bible is a real threat to them.

[Digger]

This is funny, gang. GW's worries about Bibles & not the trade deficit that supplies their arms build up. And that getcha an 85% approval.

[Libertarian_4_eva]

The spokesman noted Bush had expressed concern about religious freedom in China to President Jiang Zemin at a meeting of Pacific nations last October in Shanghai.

Do you know what Jaing Zemin said to Bush? You silly round-eye don't worry just invest in my country so we can build up our armed forces so we can crush the united states 10 years from now.

Really however I do believe that china will make a run for Russia first. They are closer weaker and only have 148 million people.

[shaggy eel]

,,, anything to say about this?

[shaggy eel]

ping

[poopsie2]

You know what really touches me deeply? 33,000 Bibles were requested. At the very least there are 33,000 Christian brothers and sisters who wanted a Bible badly enough to risk the ire of their government. 33,000 Bibles, to be read by countless others, had they been delivered. May our Lord Jesus watch over each of these brave ones until He brings them safely home.

[Ragtime Cowgirl]

Amen. They knew what they were risking. Funny that the press seldom brought these stories to our attention over the past decades. Why now? The MO of the press seems to be to weaken our President's influence internationally, peddle fear to our country when we need to stand strong. May this backfire and instead inspire Christians around the world to pray and take a stand.

[poopsie2]

Yes, and in that order. Pray, then take a stand, and keep up the pressure. We can't allow our government to think we, as a people, don't care about our suffering Christian family. That's too easy, and may be where Dubya will shine the brightest. What a glorious legacy that would be... one to last forever.

No doubt you are correct, and some will make a mighty attempt to discredit Dubya in everything he attempts in this direction. We can't make all the evil go away, but we have at least 3 years, probably 7, to make a start. I'm ready.

Our Bible is a dangerous book if the goal is to enslave people and take all hope away, is it not? You could say it's subversive (only in the best way)! I'm just so impressed with this wonderful man, willing to smuggle 33,000 Bibles to The Shouters! He counted the cost and couldn't say no, and his legacy will shine forever. I wish mine were so bright.

[Darth Sidious]

China is not only autonomous, but also -- and, more importantly -- a huge market (at least, we hope so) for U.S. business. For now, the almightly dollar trumps the "human rights" argument every time.

You've hit the nail on the head. Bush - and probably any other president - won't lift a finger to help a fellow Christian (they ARE "fellow Christians", right?) threatened for their faith.

Why? Because the "leaders" of this nation have weighed the believers against the riches... and have found the faithful wanting.

What can a pitiful band of Christians possibly offer in exchange for trade with the largest nation of this world? How can they compare their needs to that? "How dare they threaten the flow of material goods?" is the conventional wisdom inside the beltway and across the Fruited Plain.

As best I can recall, there's something in Revelation about the merchants weeping, that no one would buy their many goods, not even "slaves, and souls of men". I've always wondered how one could give the worth of a man a market value...

[poopsie2]

I don't want to let this be a "bone". I want to do something effective, and have no idea how. Oh, I write the senators and representative in our district, but it's not enough.

Can anyone offer advice to a new activist?

[Bobby777]

all Christians should pray for more opening of religious freedom in China ... it is pitiful ... and will take some sort of miracle for it to happen ...

[classygreeneyedblonde]

China will never change!!!

[wai-ming]

China will never change!!! (wish I could replicate those classy colored letters)

I beg to differ on this issue.

China has changed a lot in the past 10 years, but it still has a long way to go.

If you are religious, please pray that China will change (with regards to freedom of worship), and let God handle the rest.