The Religious Right Should Study China To Learn What Real Christian Persecution Looks Like
May 27, 2016
by Sarah E. Jones in Wall of Separation
In what is a genuine case of government-sponsored religious persecution, Chinese authorities have reportedly removed crosses from 1,200 to 1,700 churches over the past two years in an apparent attempt to keep the symbol from public view.
The New York Times reported last week that the campaign has been mostly restricted to the country’s heavily Christian Zhejiang province, but human rights activists fear it will soon expand.
President Xi Jinping announced at a recent “religious affairs” conference that religions must “Sinicize,” or become more Chinese. Xi also claimed that some religious groups had provided an opening for “overseas infiltration.”
Some Christians have rebelled against the cross removals; approximately 50 church members were injured in one recent confrontation with authorities. “It was quiet late last year,” one anonymous Christian told The Times. “But the government is now making it clear that all of the crosses will go.”
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