China, Christians Told to Strictly Enforce New Restrictive Measures on Religion "Bitter Winter" published the first full English translation of the new "Administrative Measures for Religious Activity Venues," which will come into force on September 1 next. With respect to the draft previously circulated, in their final text there are even stricter provisions for including propaganda content in sermons, and establishing study groups of Communist Party documents in all places of worship. Religious activity venues should actively broadcast Chinese Communist Party (CCP) propaganda, or face liquidation. Of course the leaders of The Three-Self Church, China's only official Christian church, and theoretically the only Christian church that is legal, received the Measures and promised to promote them. On August 2, 2023, the Three-Self Church organized a special meeting to solemnly receive the Measures and swear allegiance to them. Pastor Xu Xiaohong, chairman of the Three-Self Patriotic Movement Committee, presided over the ceremony. Pastor Wu Wei, President of the China Christian Association also spoke. Pastor Xu Xiaohong praised the Measures for guaranteeing "the safety, harmony and stability of Christian places of worship," and making sure that Christians will "run churches in accordance with Chinese laws and regulations." Pastor Wu Wei said that "it was great time to enact these Measures," and Christian pastors should understand that their job is now the "construction of a religious order that is compatible with a socialist society." The Three-Self Church promised to remain vigilant and favor "the strict governance of religion," in accordance with "Xi Jinping’s thought on the rule of law." Whether religion will be governed in accordance with Christ and the Gospel is much less clear. Some accuse the officials of The Three-Self Church of being puppets of the CCP. China, Christians Told to Strictly Enforce New Restrictive Measures on Religion (bitterwinter.org) In addition, earlier this year Pope Francis agreed to let the CCP have the final word on appointment of new Catholic Bishops. related threads: Christians being squeezed in China Chinese Christians jailed for faith memorize Bible because not allowed to have one Chinese authorities blow up megachurch Chinese Catholic bishop detained indefinitely The CCP is not only recently squeezing more control over religion but also over private companies: China's government will take more control over private companies
The Chinese opened the Shanghai Free Trade Zones in 2013 to entice western businesses to move there. They Reebok and lots more. Now that they have them as a captive audience, they problem think they can take control... as communists do.
The "religion" in China is Socialism, government control, allegiance to the Chinese Communist Party and leader Xi Jinping. China only runs state religions to try to help guarantee control over religion, and submission of religion to Chinese Communist Party (CCP) ideology. I don't think anyone informed about the situation in China would disagree with that. The question is only to what extent The Three-Self Church is a real religion. In typical Leftist fashion, it's a way for them to claim Christianity is legal in China but also be able to arrest any Christians if the authorities feel they are doing anything that could result in a problem or result in them becoming too influential. The CCP seems afraid of any organization of society that is outside their direct control.
yep, following your leader like one belongs to a cult is not good either, China has a Dictator for a leader yes, I suppose, kinda like here you are allowed to practice any religion you want, but get caught practicing the Peyote religion in the privacy of your home could get you in trouble
Technically he's a president, but essentially he is practically a dictator (or almost so, or similar to one). It's almost an inevitable outcome of their particular system of government. Many on the Left seem to have trouble understanding this, but when you set up a certain organization of government, it usually tends to result in a certain sort of outcome. You can't make that good outcome happen simply by passing nice sounding laws, or making "bad" things "illegal". It very much comes down to how the system is going to function in real life, each human being like a part in a machine. How power works in government can be a complex thing to understand.
oh we are glad we don't allow someone like Trump to become a dictator in the USA, very glad, we support term limits
I don't think you understand, FreshAir. Those with the power make the rules. China had term limits, but the President had the power, power over other officials, and with that power was able to get the term limits removed.
Do you care about crony judges and prosecutors? About a justice system that holds double standards? going after one side for the slightest excuse.
I believe Trump was treated with kid gloves and even if found guilty he will do zero time, even if he violates his probation he would do zero time
