China’s New Crackdown On Religious Liberty Proves Things Have Gotten Worse Since the China-Vatican Accord

The rules, issued by the party’s National Religious Affairs Administration, ban foreign nationals from common worship with Chinese citizens, and require all visitors to affirm the national independence of Chinese Churches and faith communities.

The restrictions, which also ban any form of religious practice by visitors in unofficial locations, mark an escalation in Chinese control of religion on the mainland, and come six months after the extension of the Vatican’s controversial agreement with the Chinese government.

The new measures, which clerics in China told The Pillar were likely aimed at creating a “pretext” for arresting foreign nationals for religious activity, suggest that six years after the Holy See’s accord with China, the Church faces less, not more, freedom to operate.

The regulations, billed as 38 “Detailed Rules,” were carried on the website of the Catholic Diocese of Shanghai and first reported by the website asianews.net.

According to the new regulations, which take effect May 1, “foreigners who engage in religious activities in China must abide by Chinese laws, regulations, and rules, abide by the principle of China’s religious independence and self-management, and accept the legitimate management of the Chinese government.”

“Foreigners who engage in religious activities in China must abide by Chinese laws, regulations, and rules, abide by the principle of China’s religious independence and self-management, and accept the legitimate management of the Chinese government,” the regulations say.

The rules also require all liturgies take place in officially sanctioned places of worship and be presided over by authorized Chinese ministers. Only in extraordinary circumstances and with official permission can a foreign national preside at a liturgy or worship in an unsanctioned space, and prohibits common worship between Chinese and non-Chinese faithful.

Non-Chinese who “speak or carry out actions hostile to China, hold extremist ideological tendencies or interfere with Chinese religious matters” are liable for arrest under the new rules.

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