Religious freedom in China still in doubt

NANJING, China — Wide-ranging persecution of Chinese Christians has dashed hopes of greater religious freedom from the new law on religion that took effect March 1, according to a Compass Direct news service report recounting a wave of arrests in May, June and July.

The new Regulations on Religious Affairs encouraged Protestant and Catholic house churches to register with the relevant government body. Compass described younger house church leaders as being optimistic about the law, while an older generation of leaders — those who survived the Cultural Revolution — were suspicious of the government’s motives.

The arrests in recent months have cast further doubt on the government’s intent to improve religious liberty, Compass noted in its July 20 report. The spread of Christianity among educated Chinese was highlighted in an article in The Economist April 21, titled, “Christianity is becoming popular with China’s urban elite.” Compass noted that the trend “clearly worries the Chinese government.”