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The situation of the church in China
China's dream of an Olympics show-casing the country's record-breaking progress was beset by a series of setbacks during the run-up to the Beijing games. The international community's concerns about China's human rights record resurfaced after the regime's decisive intervention following the spring 2008 Tibet uprising. Seemingly undaunted, the Chinese Communist Party pushed on with its ambitious plans for Beijing 2008, a golden opportunity to celebrate the country's growing global profile.
Although officially still atheist, the People's Republic of China has taken unprecedented steps which appear to be aimed at increasing cooperation with religious groups. The topic of religion was formally discussed at a plenary session of the Communist Party's politburo in December 2007. President Hu Jintao, the party's Secretary General, also took part.[i] But other sources[ii] said that a primary reason for the high-level discussions was the party's growing concern at the rise of religious practice across China, especially in rural areas. Sources say that communist officials have abandoned Marxist views about the imminent demise of religious practice. As a result, they increasingly seek support from faith groups for community projects.
Research by two Professors, Tong Shijun and Liu Zhongyu, from a university in Shanghai, showed that in 2006/2007 there were at least 300 million followers of religion in China, more than treble the government's estimate released only two years previously.[iii] According to these reports, this phenomenal growth increased the Communist Party's fears of civil disobedience. Such concerns were exacerbated by the 2007 uprisings in Burma, a close collaborator with China. Another factor explaining government nervousness were reports that religious groups planned to hijack the Olympics to highlight reports of oppression by the regime.
The Church, however, is particularly problematic for the regime. Reports indicate party concern at statistics showing that Christianity is now the fastest growing religion in China. Christians may number 40 million,[iv]farhigher than Beijing´s estimate of 23 million (18 million Protestants and five million Catholics).
Religious leaders say Christianity's growth stems from a new thirst for freedom and knowledge following generations of Marxist oppression. Whatever the reasons, Christianity in all its forms is viewed with suspicion - and in some cases outright contempt - by the officials.
For the Catholic Church, the 2007-08 period was dominated by Pope Benedict XVI's pastoral letter of 27th May 2007. In it, the Pontiff appealed for greater unity between the so-called 'Underground' Catholic Church (not recognised by the government) and the (state-approved) 'Official' Catholic Church. The letter very respectfully asked the political authorities to guarantee the Church freedom of religious practice. A serious obstacle to improved Sino-Vatican relations is the appointment of bishops, a major dispute dating back generations. Indeed the year before the Pope's letter, the Chinese Catholic Patriotic Association (CCPA), an arm of government which seeks control of the Church, had insisted on the ordination of three bishops without prior authorisation by the Holy See.
Most government-sponsored episcopal ordinations are eventually approved by the Holy See. The ordination of bishops for dioceses in various parts of the country that took place in the autumn of 2007 received papal backing. But delays in obtaining Vatican assent point towards behind-the-scenes tensions still dogging the Church's relations with China. Recent statistics show that more than 90 percent of bishops in China - both 'Official' and 'Underground' - are approved by the Holy See. At the time of writing, at least 12 Catholic bishops and a similar number of priests are either behind bars or in some way prevented from carrying out their ministry.[v] But while disputes over bishops frequently receive international media coverage, the ongoing - and in some cases worsening - attacks on Christians continue largely unnoticed by the rest of the world.
[i] Xnhua agency, 19.12.2007.
[ii] Asia News.
[iii] People's Daily and AsiaNews, 07.02.2007.
[iv] Report by Professors Tong Shijun and Liu Zhongyu (Shanghai Normal University). See Wu Jiao , "Religious believers thrice the estimate", China Daily, 07.02.2007.
[v] Private correspondence with Holy Spirit Study Centre
How you can help
Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) supports several projects in China. You can support these projects by donating via their national offices.
Below you can find one or more finished projects ACN supported in the past.
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Lay pastoral workers are of great importance in supporting the work of the priests, especially in a country like China, which has far too few priests in proportion to the number of Catholic faithful. In one diocese in the southwest of China, the laity are particularly active and by their involvement help to keep the parishes running. Their training operates on three levels. Read more >>
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In China there is a new generation of younger sisters, who have entered the religious congregations since 1980. This young generation is now taking over from the older one, whose training dates back to before the communist era. In almost all the convents today responsibility now rests in the hands of younger women. Read more >>
Statistics
Population: 1300.00 Million
Christian Population: 40.00 Million
Religious statistics:
Atheist 50%
Chinese religions 29%
Other 10%
Buddhist 8%
Christian 3%
Breaking News from China
- 18/01/2011: Persecution of Christians in China Today
China: An Awakening Faith
The situation of Catholics in China
Persecution of Christians in China today (audio)
Persecution of Christians in China Today