NEWS//Chinese churches reopen with restrictions

China is allowing some government-approved churches to reopen after COVID-19 restrictions closed them in January.

But there’s a catch. The churches must demonstrate their loyalty to the communist government.

Praise of President Xi

On June 13, over 20 staff members of the Quannan Church in Fujian Province held a flag-raising ceremony in its courtyard. Officials from the city’s United Front Work Department and Religious Affairs Bureau also attended. The lead pastor praised President Xi Jinping for bringing China through the epidemic. “We should love the socialist system and the Communist Party,” he said.

At a Catholic Church in Kaifeng, a priest declared at a flag-raising service, “We solemnly raise the national flag here today after the epidemic, witnessing the fruits of all people working together under the leadership of Xi Jinping who directs the government and the Party.”

Viewed as interference

“The church finally reopened after five months, 147 days, or 21 Sundays,” a member of Kaifeng Gangxi Christian Church said on June 14.  “But instead of singing hymns to praise God, the government required us to raise the national flag and sing the national anthem, praising Xi Jinping’s victory in fighting the epidemic. This is completely contrary to our belief.”

Another church member said, “The United Front Work Department and Religious Affairs Bureau demand to hold flag-raising ceremonies and promote patriotism. From now on, all churches have to do so, or they will be shut down, and their leaders dismissed.”

Sources: Bitter Winter, Fox News