Church in Chains, 29th August 2023 (excerpts)
China’s Administration of Religious Affairs drafted more restrictive religious regulations on 1 September 2023.
Online magazine Bitter Winter says, “In this case, the final text of the Measures… is even worse than the draft”.
China Aid says they “continue to suffocate religious freedom in China.”
Religious Liberty Prayer Bulletin says, “They obliterate the space for Bible-believing individuals to operate.”
Leaders of China’s government-controlled Three-Self Patriotic Movement have sworn allegiance to them.
Some of the 76 new measures state how Religious Venues must support the CCP and restrict church activities.
Article 3 states: “Places of religious activity shall uphold the leadership of the CCP and the socialist system.”
Article 27 stipulates that religious leaders must “love the motherland and support the socialist system”.
Article 30 orders religious leaders to “support the leadership of the CCP and practise socialist core values.”
Article 36 requires “Places of religious activity to regularly study the policies of the CCP.”
Article 39 stipulates that “sermons shall reflect core socialist values”.
Article 71 warns that “a place of religious activity shall be punished if established without authorisation.”