Christianity crackdown: Government destroys 7,000 CROSSES and BURNS Bibles
THE CHINESE government’s crackdown on Christianity has intensified in Henan province where over 7,000 crosses have been destroyed by local authorities.
By CHARLIE MOLONEY
Express.co.uk
Sun, Sep 16, 2018
Persecution watchdog International Christian Concern (ICC) has revealed authorities have demolished crosses, burned Bibles, raided Christian homes to remove religious symbols, arrested church members and seized churches.
Chinese Communist Party crackdowns in Henan province escalated after the revised regulations on religious affairs were published last February.
Under new religious regulations introduced in February, churches have to be officially registered in the state and adhere to the rules set by Chinese authorities.
However, the ICC reported that even government-sanctioned churches in Henan could not escape being destroyed.
Henan province has one of the largest Christian populations in China, with several million living in the region, including approximately 300,000 Catholics.
In March footage emerged of Communist Party officials using a crane to rip a cross off an iconic Catholic church in Henan province.
The shocking footage, shared on Twitter by one of the priests witnessing the act, showed the moment when local Communist Party chiefs used a crane to remove the last cross standing on top of the Shangqiu Catholic Church South Cathedral.
President Xi Jinping’s government has ramped up pressure on Christians across the country.
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