Posted on 01/07/2020 7:00:17 AM PST by SeekAndFind
China announced it will soon implement harsh new measures requiring all religious personnel to support and implement total submission to the Chinese Communist Party, sparking concern among Chinese Christians.
Asia News reports that the new administrative measures will be put in place for Chinese religious groups starting Feb. 1. The measures complete the "Regulations on religious affairs" revised two years ago and implemented on Feb. 1, 2018.
The new measures include six chapters and 41 articles dealing with the organization, functions, offices, supervision, projects and economic administration of communities and groups at both a national and local level.
Under the new rules, every aspect of the life of religious communities — from formation, gatherings to annual and daily projects — is subject to approval by the government’s religious affairs department.
Additionally, all religious personnel are required to support, promote and implement total submission to the Chinese Communist Party among all members of their communities.
Article 5 reads that “religious organizations must adhere to the leadership of the Chinese Communist Party, observe the constitution, laws, regulations, ordinances and policies, adhere to the principle of independence and self-government, adhere to the directives on religions in China, implementing the values of socialism …”
According to Article 17, “Religious organizations must spread the principles and policies of the Chinese Communist Party, as well as national laws, regulations, rules to religious personnel and religious citizens, educating religious personnel and religious citizens to support the leadership of the Chinese Communist Party, supporting the socialist system, adhering to and following the path of socialism with Chinese characteristics …”
The law stipulates that “without the approval of the religious affairs department of the people’s government, or registration with the civil affairs department of the people’s government, no activities can be carried out in the name of religious groups.”
Persecution watchdog International Christians Concern warns that the latest measures will be used by the Communist government as a ”legal tool to further tighten space for religious groups.”
A Chinese Catholic priest told Asia News the new provisions are just another example of the CCP’s continued crackdown on religion.
"In practice, your religion no longer matters, if you are Buddhist, or Taoist, or Muslim or Christian: the only religion allowed is faith in the Chinese Communist Party,” he said.
Since the initial implementation of the "Regulations on religious affairs" in 2018, Christians and other religious groups have experienced heightened levels of persecution. China has banned online sales of Bibles, leveled churches, and arrested hundreds of Christians for "inciting subversion of state power."
In December, China sentenced Wang Yi, founder of one of China’s largest unregistered churches, to nine years in prison for “subversion of state power.” The U.S. condemned the sentencing as “another example of “Beijing's intensification of repression of Chinese Christians and members of other religious groups.”
The Chinese government has also been accused of detaining more than a million Muslims in what it calls re-education camps.
In a letter released Dec. 31, the China Human Rights Lawyers Group warned that it seems as though the “Cultural [Revolution] is returning in covert form” across China.
“Basic freedom of speech is being suppressed, sensitive news is prohibited, ideological discussions in universities are being shut down. Many matters of societal welfare are politicized, and internet censorship is the norm,” they wrote. “The state of human rights in China is in rapid decline.
“Human rights violations in the Chinese frontier are being roundly criticized and condemned by many countries. China’s leaders seem to have become the enemies of civilized countries overnight. By the looks of things, there is really no reason to be optimistic as we look at the festering regression of China’s human rights situation throughout 2019.”
Despite oppression, the lawyers urged human rights advocates and others to continue making the “most fundamental efforts for the sake of advancing the cause of human rights in China.”
China is ranked 27th on Open Doors USA’s World Watch List of 50 countries where it's most difficult to be a Christian.
Mao’s little red book is still a best seller I see...
Democrats, Commies, Socialists... all have their own version of “no other gods before me!”
The god of statism is a jealous god!
This reminds me of “The Obsolete Man”.
The condemned man had a Bible hidden away, remember?
The one that passed judgment, broke.
Then, it was HE that the state deemed obsolete!
I am so glad we gave these guy our factories, our jobs and we run a $500B/yr trade deficit with them. So smart of us. /sarc
Corruption equals government
We already have this here, have for years now... Just look at our educational institutions.
Sounds exactly like the democRATs.
Time for a Chinese version of Yakov Smirnoff, I guess:
“In America, on Friday Night you go out looking for parties. In Soviet Russia, party always find YOU!”
That episode could never and would never be produced today.
So true!
“China imposes harsh new rules governing religious groups in 2020: Your Loyalty Must Be To the Party First and Foremost”
Houston had a lesbian mayor who was EXACTLY the same regarding churches. Luckily she was stopped.
How does that differ from the Democrat Party platform?
Sounds like the Democrats dream...
Cool...just like DemocRATS
There is a subtle, possibly prescient detail in “Aliens” I’ve seen. When Ripley is reading a digital Bible, it has a note regarding the last edited date and by what authority.
You still have the religious content, but it is edited by those in authority and it is done digitally ... and it is enabled by digital tech.
Unforgettable episode “THE OBSOLETE MAN”. In fact, it was shown recently during a Twilight Zone Marathon on TV. Stayed awake to watch this memorable special episode that stayed on my mind since I was a child.
One doesn’t need a group to be Christian/religious. One only needs their heart.
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