Paul KeenanRenewed drive against Christian communities
Over 60 churches in the Chinese province of Zhejiang have received demolition notices in a renewed drive against Christian communities.
On May 15, The Irish Catholic reported on the drive by authorities in Zhejiang to move against places of worship amid fresh suspicions among ruling officials in Beijing that non-sanctioned Christian communities could serve as a conduit for unwelcome Western ideals. At that time, the most high profile church demolition was Sanjiang church in Wenzhou, a massive structure torn down on May 2 after a month-long standoff which saw local Christians create a human shield against the authorities.
Now, according to a list compiled by AsiaNews, at least 64 churches have received notification of full demolition or restructuring (to remove rooftop crosses) since the start of this year. Actions have included the destruction or walling up of statues at the Catholic shrine of Longgang. In addition, it is reported that a number of churches in Zhejiang’s Yongjia county have been ordered to terminate their Sunday school programmes for youngsters.
Authorities have stated that the demolitions are part of a previously stated plan to ‘beautify’ Zhejiang as part of a modernising project towards making the province a hub of economic development by 2020. Local Christians, however, have blamed Zhejiang party secretary Xia Baolong for the wave of demolitions, alleging that, having been offended at the height of one church cross, ordered the latest campaign. In February, during an interview with China’s Xinhua news agency, Baolong claimed that Western forces had infiltrated Christin communities in his province.
Meanwhile, Chinese Catholics have expressed their gratitude to Pope Francis for his May 24 call for prayers for the Church in China. May 24 is the World Day of Prayer for the Church in China and coincides with the massive celebration of Our Lady Help of Christians at the Shrine of Sheshan near Shanghai.
Here is a complete list of the demolitions.
1. On Jan. 1, the Christian Church of Gou village, Liangzhu town, Yuhang District, Hangzhou, was required by Liangzhu town government to remove the cross of Gou Village Church.
2. On Feb, 27, the cross of Huanghu Christian Church, Huanghu town, Yuhang District, Hangzhou, was forcibly removed.
3-5: The crosses of Hangzhou Gulou Church, Sandun Church and Xingqiao Church are in the government's list of crosses that will be demolished.
6. On Feb. 27, Baiquan Church in Baiquan town, Dinghai District, Zhoushan, Zhejiang, received a notice from the local government, demanding the church to remove its cross between Feb. 28 and March 1. On April 4, more than 100 SWAT and paramilitary police officers suddenly surrounded the church, and the cross was forcibly removed.
7. In early April, the cross of Gangtou Church in Yantou town, Yongjia County, Wenzhou, was forcibly removed.
8. On April 4, the nursing home of Jiangjiaqiao Church in Yueqing County, Wenzhou was close to being demolished. Demolition stopped temporarily due to believers' resistance.
9. On April 4, Guangming Christian Church in Rui'an city, Wenzhou, received a demolition notice demolition. The government demanded three churches located in Shibajia industrial district of Rui'an city to tear down parts of their church buildings before April 10.
10. On April 4, part of a church building under construction in Rui'an, Wenzhou, was demolished by the government.
11. On April 4, a Catholic church in Pingyang County, Wenzhou, was forcibly demolished. Some believers were allegedly beaten up for resisting the demolition.
12. On April 8, Baduzhen Church in Longquan city, Lishui District, Zhejiang, received a notice demanding the church's cross to be demolished because it was "too conspicuous".
13. A Christian meeting place in Rui'an, Wenzhou, received a notice from the Municipal Jinhu Office, demanding the demolition of the cross on the roof of the meeting place and other parts of the building.
14. Lushan Chuch in Lingxi town, Cangnan County, Weizhou, received a demolition notice from the government.
15. On April 9, Tengqiaodaima Church in Ouhai District, Wenzhou, received a demolition notice demanding the demolition of the church's bell tower, which was under construction, before April 17.
16. On April 11, Gaoloudilai Church of Rui'an, Wenzhou, faced the demolition of its cross.
17. On April 11, Xiangjiangxindu Church in Rui'an, Wenzhou, received a demolition notice. The government covered the cross of the church with black canvas.
18. On April 12, Baihe Church in Tiantai County, Taizhou, Zhejiang, received a demolition notice for the church's cross.
19. On April 15, Xiaying Church of Yinzhou District, Ningbo, Zhejiang, received a notice from the government, demanding the church to demolish its cross and claiming that the failure to comply would cause the whole church building to be demolished. The deadline given to the church for demolishing its cross is May 20.
20. On April 16, Baixiang Church in Yueqing, Wenzhou, which was under construction, received a demolition notice.
21. April 22, Chengguan Church in Wenling, Tiazhou, Zhejiang, received a demolition notice despite its possession of all paperwork required by the government.
22. On April 28, Sanjiang Church in Yongjia, Zhejiang, was demolished completely.
23. On April 23, the cross of De'en Church in Jiaojiang, Zhejiang, was demolished.
24. On April 25, the cross of Shuiyang Church in Linhai, Zhejiang, was demolished. The church was built 14 years ago.
25. On April 29, the annexes and bicycle sheds of churches in Xiaanshan, Cheng'an, Linshan and Rendi, all in Tengqiao town, Lucheng district, Wenzhou, were demolished.
26. On April 30, Zengshan Evangelical Church in Pingyang, Wenzhou, received a notice from the government that demanded the church to demolish its building before May 4.
27. On May 1, parts of the Rendi Catholic Church building of Linjiang community, Tengqiao, Lucheng, Wenzhou, were torn down.
28. On May 2, Anji Church in Huzhou, Zhejiang, faced demolition.
29. In May, the sign of Zhu'en Church on Zhenxing Road, Yiwu, Zhejiang, was demolished.
30. On May 4, Longgangshan Catholic Church in Liu city, Yueqing, Wenzhou, was demolished.
31. On May 4, the annex of Feng'ao Church in Cangnan County, Wenzhou, was forcibly demolished.
32. On May 5, Getian Church in Yaze, Ouhai, Wenzhou, was converted into the Cultural Auditorium of Getian Village.
33. On May 5, the cross of Dingqiao Church in Haining, Zhejiang, was removed.
34. On May 6, the unfinished Wu'ai Christian Church in Cangnan, Wenzhou, was forcibly demolished.
35. On May 6, the cross of Baixi Christian Church in Yandang town, Yueqing county, Wenzhou, was demolished. The construction of Baixi Church was approved by the government, and the church obtained all paperwork required by the government.
36. On May 6, Bao'ao Church in Nanxi'ao pastoral area, Wenzhou, faced demolition.
37. On May 7, the cross of Taoyuan Catholic Church in Pingyang, Wenzhou, was covered with cloth.
38. On May 6, the cross of Shamen Church in Ouhai District, Wenzhou, was wrapped up in cloth.
39. On May 7, the cross of Qiaosi Church in Hangzhou, Zhejiang, was demolished.
40. On May 8, the cross of Wuchang Church on Wuchang Road in Hangzhou was removed, along with the church's sign: Wuchang Christian Church.
41. On May 8, the cross of a Catholic Church in Cangnan county, Wenzhou, was demolished.
42. On May 8, the cross of Lingxi Sabbath Day Adventist Church in Cangnan, Wenzhou, was removed.
43. On May 8, Hebing Church in Longwan, Wenzhou, was demolished.
44. On May 9, the branch of Longwan Church in Shangwan village, Wenzhou, was demolished.
45. On May 12, Bethany Church in Wenzhou received a notice demanded the church to stop gathering.
46. The sign of Bingwang Church in Yiwu, Zhejiang, was removed.
47-49, the crosses of three churches in Jiande, Zhejiang Province, were demolished.
50-52. In mid-May, the cross of Shuangheyan Church in Yongjia County, Zhejiang, and the annexes of Huangtian Church and Fengbu Church, which were under construction, were demolished.
53. On May 16, the cross of a Yangshancang Little Flock Church in Shanglu, Yongjia County, Wenzhou, was demolished.
54. On May 16, the cross of Heyu Church in Shanglu, Yongjia County, Wenzhou, was demolished.
55. On May 16, the cross of Little Flock Church in Zhikou, Yongjia County, Wenzhou, was forcibly demolished.
56. The cross of Shancang Church in Yongjia County was demolished.
57. The cross of Zhang'ao Church in Yongjia County, Wenzhou, was demolished.
58. The cross of Jiuzhang Church in Yantou, Yongjia County, Wenzhou, was demolished.
59. On May 17, the cross of Lutian Church, Yongjia County, Wenzhou, was demolished.
60. The cross of Ruo'ao Church in Yongjia County, Wenzhou, was demolished.
61. The cross of Huangcun Church in Yongjia County, Wenzhou, was demolished.
62. The cross of Lishe Church in Yinzhou District, Ningbo, Zhejiang, was wrapped up with cloth.
63. On May 17, the cross of Henglan'ao Catholic Church in Wuniu Street, Yueqing, Wenzhou, was demolished.
64. On May 17, the cross of Yantan Church in Yongjia County, Wenzhou, was demolished.