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.
Christianity keeps growing in China
China will become increasingly Christian in the coming decades, , in Indiana, USA. “By 2030, China is projected to have some 225 million Protestant Christians alone, a figure similar to the entire Christian population today in the United States,” said Fenggang Yang. “It is reasonable to expect the growth will […]
China accused of ’emasculating’ Christianity
The Chinese government is attempting to “co-opt and emasculate” Christianity, which many believe has more adherents than the 87-million member Communist party, . “I don’t believe the government will close the Church but I do believe they want to manage it”, one underground pastor said anonymously ahead of a secretive […]
Christian lawyers call for Chinese colleagues’ release
Justice Michael F. Saldanha speaking at the Advocates Asia conference in New Delhi on 22 October.World Watch Monitor Advocates Asia, a forum of Christian lawyers in 20 Asian countries, has urged the Chinese government to release “immediately and unconditionally” human rights lawyers and activists detained since early July. The […]
Analysis: What to make of China’s demolition of crosses?
Chinese President Xi Jinping’s visit to the US once again throws into the spotlight China’s human rights record, including that on freedom of religion. Despite China’s past, it is now generally acknowledged that Christianity is growing at a great rate. In 2007, it was estimated that the population of Christians […]
Cross removal ‘escalates’ in eastern China
Christian groups in China have told the BBC they are increasingly worried that the authorities are targeting them because of their religion, as the past year has seen an “escalated campaign” to remove outdoor crosses from church buildings. The rise in demolitions in the eastern province of Zhejiang, where there […]
Religion can help China’s economy, says new report
In a new study Brian J. Grim says that, while China’s economic success may be under threat from a recent rash of government actions to impose its supremacy over culture – in particular, religion – Chinese Christians may be a special source of economic growth. In The Modern Chinese Secret […]
China’s ‘demolition campaign’ goes on
China is set to continue removing crosses from church rooftops in the eastern province of Zhejiang, despite a bishop’s claim in March that the so-called “demolition campaign” against hundreds of churches had ended. Bishop Paul Meng Qinglu told UCA News the alleged campaign had been stopped after complaints from church […]
China’s church ‘demolition campaign’ ends
An alleged ‘demolition campaign’ against churches in a province in eastern China has ended, a Chinese bishop has claimed. Bishop Paul Meng Qinglu told UCA News the alleged campaign in Zhejiang province, south of Shanghai, was stopped after complaints from church leaders across China. More than 400 crosses were removed […]
China’s oldest priest dies at 105
China’s oldest priest died Jan. 20 at the age of 105. “Father Ye Yaomin withstood persecution and banishment to help build up the Church in China,” UCA News said, adding that his “epic life spanned the fall of emperors, wars and a Communist Party intolerant of his devout faith.” Yaomin of […]
Pope advised to stay away from China
The former bishop of Hong Kong has said he would advise the Pope against visiting China for fear that a papal trip could end up being manipulated by Beijing. Cardinal Joseph Zen Ze-kiun was speaking to the catholic charity, Aid to the Church in Need about persecution of Christians in China, which he […]