Posted on 11/21/2005 1:15:55 AM PST by TigerLikesRooster
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Bush Attends Church in China
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Beijing 20 November 2005 |
President Bush says China should grant its people greater religious freedoms. So, he opened his day in Beijing by going to church.
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| George W. Bush, center, and First Ldy Laura Bush, right, after attending morning services at Gangwashi Church in Beijing |
But White House officials say it is a real church, where real people of faith really do worship. They say it is important for the Chinese people to see that expressing faith is a good thing for a healthy and mature society.
President Bush thanked Pastor Du Fengying for her sermon, based on a passage from Corinthians, that love is tolerance, trust and perseverance. Mr. Bush told her the spirit of the Lord is strong within her church.
"You know, it wasn't all that long ago that people were not allowed to worship openly in this society," he said. "My hope is that the government of China will not fear Christians who gather to worship openly. A healthy society is a society that welcomes all faiths, and gives people a chance to express themselves through worship with the Almighty."
President Bush signed the church guest book, asking God to bless the Christians in China. Printing bibles is still illegal in the country, and President Bush is calling on the government to allow its people to worship, without state control, and print bibles and other sacred texts, without fear of punishment.
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George Bush |
"I thought it would be wise for the Chinese government to invite the Dalai Lama, so he can tell them exactly what he told me in the White House the other day, that he has no desire for an independent Tibet," he said. "I talked about the Catholic Church, the need for this government to invite leaders from the Vatican to come and discuss religious freedoms in China. So, we discussed a lot of areas of concern about the condition of the dissidents and people who want to express themselves."
China reportedly detained or put under house arrest at least a dozen dissidents ahead of the president's visit, something Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice says Washington will raise "quite vociferously" with the Chinese government.
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U.S. President George W. Bush (L) leaves a Sunday church service holding hands with Chinese Pastor Ying Dufeng in Beijing November 20, 2005. Bush is in China on a two-day visit. REUTERS/Jason Reed |
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Guest Pastor Dr. Luis Palau (L), an international evangelist, Reverend Xinli Yu (2nd L), US President George W. Bush (C), Pastor Ying Dufeng (2nd R) and US First Lady Laura Bush (R). Bush has opened a visit to China by attending a church service and, in a human rights message to leaders in Beijing, said a 'healthy society' thrives on religious freedom(AFP/Paul J.Richards) |
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Guest Pastor Dr. Luis Palau (L), an international evangelist, Reverend Xinli Yu (2nd L), US President George W. Bush (C), Pastor Ying Dufeng (2nd R) and US First Lady Laura Bush (R). Bush has opened a visit to China by attending a church service and, in a human rights message to leaders in Beijing, said a 'healthy society' thrives on religious freedom(AFP/Paul J.Richards) |
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U.S. President George W. Bush smiles in front of a Chinese choir after attending a Sunday morning service at the Gangwashi Church in Beijing, November 20, 2005. Bush pressed China's President Hu Jintao on Sunday to rein in China's swelling trade surplus and push forward currency reform after calling for greater religious freedom. REUTERS/Jason Reed |
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U.S. President George W. Bush (front C) speaks in front of a Chinese choir after attending a service at the Gangwashi Church in Beijing November 20, 2005. Bush's visit to the church was a signal urging Chinese President Hu Jintao to allow greater religious freedom in China, a message he will underscore by starting his day at Sunday services at the church, one of five officially recognised Protestant churches in Beijing. Gathered with Bush are evangelist Luis Palau (L), Rev. Yu Xinli (2nd L), Pastor Ying Dufeng (2nd R) and U.S. first lady Laura Bush. REUTERS/Jason Reed |
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Chinese worshippers pray in Gangwashi Church, one of five officially recognised Protestant churches, after U.S. President George W. Bush attended a morning service in Beijing November 20, 2005. Bush plans to press Chinese President Hu Jintao on Sunday to rein in China's swelling trade surplus and push forward currency reform after calling for greater religious freedom. REUTERS/Claro Cortes IV |
Ping! It would be really great if N. Korea is liberated soon and Bush can attend a church service in Pyongyang and it is broadcast both inside N. Korea and abroad. That will be the day to remember.
Korean Reds Targeting Christians
http://www.nysun.com/article/23082
That article is archived on FR too.
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1524432/posts
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1523871/posts (graphic warning)
I honestly don't know how South Korea tolerates this. If memory serves me correctly, the largest church in the world is now in Seoul. South Korea may be the most active Christian nation on earth, and yet somehow they accept what is going on in the north all too readily, especially the youth.
Please consult a map: Beijing is in China, not in Korea.
It's not clear to me what's happening here. According to AsianAccess, Comm China is fine with the idea of non theology twisted churches for foreigners. But they don't want their own citizens to be acknowledging "no king but Jesus" or any other deity for that matter. Are these Chinese participants shown here actually citizens of other countries? Or a dog and pony show brought in just for Bush's visit?
These are the monsters that people like Jimmy Carter would have us do business with.
ON THE NET...
http://www.persecution.org
http://www.persecution.org/newsite/countryinfodetail.php?countrycode=16&PHPSESSID=3730940e722d8986c40d11c27238f525
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ON THE NET...
http://www.assistnews.net/Stories/s05110113.htm
Sunday, November 20, 2005
"LUIS PALAU WRAPS CHINA TRIP, JOINS PRESIDENT BUSH FOR BEIJING CHURCH VISIT"
Amazing isn't it. China can get away with jailing Christians and presenting a state sponsored "Church" They must be laughing at us as they ride their Mercedes to the bank.
Where's the news here?
Newbie, I was replying to TigerLikesRooster about the DPRK.
President Bush visited the government controlled showcase church, not the hundreds and thousands of "underground churches" in China. Hope they heard his message but it would have been nice if he had asked the Beijing butchers to visit some Christians, Falun Gong, etc. to tell them personally. He should have gone to prison to see them.
and therein lies the problem with this visit. W is saying and doing some of the right things, but I fear that under pressure from business, etc, he might let this one slide.
The President brought up human rights, but I'm afraid he's going to let them get away with it this time around. I'm all for selling China Boeings, but not at the expense of our values.
China is not a free country, and, until it is, we need to seriously re-evaluate where we'll let our greed take us.
Of course it was a publicity stunt for the Chicoms.
Moscow used to have ONE protestant church, kept open for the same reasons.
But going there sends a message to the CHINESE Christians, that the president is on their side; and forces the Chinese government to have to state that religious belief is officially permitted--a tool which Chinese believers can
use to try to expand their own freedom.
It's only a tiny opening of a door, but it's a start; and more than the State Dept. would have wanted (they would probably prefer to avoid the topic altogether, for fear of embarrassing their hosts).
Yes,there is much to be done, but these events are the stuff that break down the walls; they are the horn of Joshua. Read the writings of the Russians who where in jail when Reagan visited the Soviets and how just his words gave them hope.
Instead of a Klinton's comment about we should not have overthrown Hussein, we have a man of faith praising the Holy Spirit. We conservatives should be proud, because this is not new for President Bush he said, "Jesus changed my heart." Rejoice in the Word of the Lord and give thanks to those who suffer in His name. / now flame on because by rant is off
I agree with you.
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