BEIJING, China — The Chinese Communist Party, which restricts Christian ministries, is clamping down even tighter with the institution of new legal restrictions.
The relief group Barnabas Fund reported China’s “Measures for the Financial Management of Venues for Religious Activities” went into effect June 1. The 55 articles included in it target churches, monasteries, mosques and other places of worship.
The measures give the CCP’s religious affairs department greater authority to regulate, audit and inspect ministries and punish violators, and come 13 months after “Measures for the Administration of Religious Personnel” went into effect. According to Barnabas Fund, those mandate that church leaders who want to be state registered must pledge allegiance to China, support the CCP and adhere to socialist tenets.
News outlet China Christian Daily highlighted a June 8 report from the CCP, insisting Christian leaders of state registered churches be frugal and tell believers to practice a “green” lifestyle and worship in “eco-friendly” places, and noting violators would be punished, Barnabas Fund reported.
While these measures focus on state-registered ministries, the CCP constantly targets unregistered churches and those who attend them.
China is No. 17 on Open Doors’ 2022 World Watch List of places most difficult to be a Christian.
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