As part of a recent escalation in crackdowns on unsanctioned religions and churches in China, a leader of an "illegal" church was arrested by police
yesterday, in accordance with a directive from the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). The Protestant religious group itself claims over 10 million
members. Member counts of churches and religions deemed illegal by the CCP total over 100 million. Since the 1970's, church leader "Zhang" has
spent almost 12 years in prison for his beliefs. His family are reportedly wanted by authorities and are still at large.
news.yahoo.com
SHANGHAI, China - China has detained a prominent minister of an unofficial Protestant church in a crackdown on Christian groups that defy Communist
Party control, a U.S.-based group said Friday.
It said Zhang's two congregations � the Fangcheng Mother Church and China for Christ Church � are among China's largest underground church networks,
with an estimated 10 million members.
Contacts with foreign evangelical groups are considered especially sensitive because communist leaders regard them as possible channels for foreign
subversion.
Please visit the link provided for the complete story.
The arrest, imprisonment, and even execution of members of religious groups in China by the CCP has shown no signs of decreasing since China has
opened her doors and begun to enjoy mild economic success. In fact, it seems to be escalating.
The CCP, ever-aware of the dangers of allowing Chinese citizens to form into large, non-government organizations, particularly since that is how the
CCP itself came to power, continues to ensure that China's development and increase of economic freedoms will not be paralleled by an increase in
religious freedoms and freedom of speech. The arrest and execution of Falun Gong members in recent years has been particularly illustrative of the
unwillingness of the CCP to ease its grip on the Chinese people and their basic rights.
With a completely state-controlled media and state-controlled church, "freedom" is all good and well purely by definition, but within the
well-watched borders of "the next superpower", the government is writing the dictionaries. Small wonder the free people of Taiwan, largely Buddhist
and Taoist, are hesitant about a "One-China".
Related AboveTopSecret.com Discussion Threads:
Hey China, why are you so worked up about an Independant Taiwan
China overlooked
[edit on 10-12-2004 by Banshee]