The Communist Government in China Steps Up Control over Catholic Activities
Do not cross the “red line” was the order Catholics received from the Communist authorities of the province of Henan. This is a clear threat to close down places of worship if they do not respect the “new rules on religious affairs.”
The new rules are to be taken “seriously”, explained the official Catholic authorities of Henan – schismatic in the eyes of the Holy See – in a letter to all the faithful, reported Ucanews on April 18, 2018.
Beijing’s objective is a strict application of “the principle of the separation between religion and education”; no “formation activity” for young people whatsoever is to be organized by the Church. Worse yet, parents must not bring their children to Sunday Mass.
The press agency Ucanews also claims that in the diocese of Zhengzhou, several authorities went to a church to evacuate all the minors assisting at Easter Mass with their families on April 1, 2018.
“It was only propaganda and education previously, but now there is a red line, a high-pressure line, so take it seriously,” added the official letter sent to Catholics.
This letter is to be signed by all parents, who are to mention the names of their children and the class they are in at school. In their schools, students were forced to listen to a commentary on the letter; they were then asked to write down their names and the time and place they heard the official explanation.
Ever since President Xi Jinping was reelected, his power has considerably increased, and the control over religious activities has grown stricter than before. This cannot but cast doubts and reserves upon a possible agreement between the Holy See and Beijing.
Sources: Crux / Ucanews / FSSPX.News – 4/24/2018
