What is the state of the Catholic Church in China today?
The promise of religious freedom in China is a false one. Despite the Chinese Government’s ratification of several human rights treaties, its stated adherence to the UN Declaration of Human Rights, and a provision in the Chinese Constitution guaranteeing freedom of religion and belief, China continues to commit serious violations of religious freedom and belief. The Chinese Government severely and systematically persecutes members of China’s spiritual communities, including Roman Catholics, Protestants, Evangelical Christians, Tibetan Buddhists, Uighur Muslims, and members of the Falun Gong movement. The Chinese Government views religion as a threat to its power. As a result, it restricts religious activities to government-sanctioned organizations and registered places of worship. It also seeks to stamp out those religious activities that are not government-sanctioned. The Chinese State Council’s Religious Affairs Bureau screens religious groups for official approval or disapproval, mo
