CNS photo/Lang Lang, Reuters All public Church activities, including Marian pilgrimages, have been suspended in China until the end of May.
The Chinese Catholic Patriotic Association (CCPA) and its bishops’ forum, the Bishops’ Conference of the Catholic Church in China, jointly announced the delay last week.
This measure “aims to avoid gatherings as part of measures to check the Covid-19 pandemic”. The notice also delays the opening of seminaries and religious institutions.
However, several Catholics suspect the Chinese Government is using the pandemic as a cover to suppress religion as the move comes amid administrative claims of dissipating Covid-19.
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Chinese cities and towns report normal life has returned and most businesses, including markets and tourist attractions such as The Great Wall have reopened.
China had banned all public gatherings, including public religious worship, since January when Covid-19 began to spread.
However, the state-controlled Church notice says that pilgrimages can “significantly increase the risk of importing the virus”.
The notice also asked all dioceses and parishes to suspend all pilgrimage programs.
Beijing parishioner Li Xue questioned the decision to cancel pilgrimages claiming that several tourist attractions have not only reopened, but also engaged in various promotions.
“The government has [sic] too much control over religion,” she said. “The authorities are using the epidemic as an excuse to curtail religious freedom, and that’s the scary part.”