Premier Li Keqiang Church officials fear that newly revised religious affairs regulations released by the Chinese government, supposedly aimed at protecting national security, will be used to further suppress religious activities.
Earlier in September, Premier Li Keqiang announced that a state council order on the new regulations would take effect on February 1.
Anthony Lam, executive secretary of the Holy Spirit Study Centre in Hong Kong said that the new provisions showed authorities had not listened to opinions expressed by religious communities during public consultations.
Total religious control was the goal, he said, whereas a 2005 version had been more balanced and moderate.
The changes reflected differing governing styles of former president Hu Jintao and current President Xi Jinping, he added.
Mr Lam said there were tighter restrictions in the revised regulations on “unauthorised religious” venues. He questioned whether a home display about Zen meditation exercises could, for example, be deemed illegal.
He stressed that both open and underground communities of the Catholic Church in China would be affected. The regulations include chapters on general provisions as well as religious groups, venues, personnel, property and legal responsibilities.