China Tightens Control on Churches, Enforces Law Against Teaching Children

Officials collect information from Christians in Jiangsu Province.
 (China Aid)

Posted at Morning Star News:

(Morning Star News) – China has tightened its “choke-hold” on churches across the country in recent weeks, according to advocacy group China Aid.

Recent bans on unregistered church worship and on teaching Christianity to children, “as if intending to eliminate all house churches at once,” have startled Christians, a China Aid source reported.

In Guangzhou, Guangdong Province in southern China, a source told China Aid that in the past week police visited members of unregistered church members at their homes to warn them not to attend worship services. Officers also summoned a large number of them for questioning.

“The police called me again today and ordered me to stay away from church gatherings, which irritated me,” reported one Christian, who wished to remain unnamed. “I don’t know what to do with these people.”

Authorities also ordered the Christian to write a letter guaranteeing not to attend church services.

“Today, people from the sub-district office went to take pictures of our two church buildings, using inspecting the fire systems as an excuse,” the source told China Aid earlier this week. “People from the religious affairs bureau also called and summoned me for a talk on Friday [Sept. 7].”

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