CHINA: Religious issues and persecution– Bimonthly Digest November 16-30
Church of Almighty god
28.11.2024 – The McDonald’s murder in Zhaoyuan, 2014–2024. 1. China’s largest fake news campaign of the 21st century
Bitter Winter – Ten years ago, in 2014, what will become one of the most famous “cult crimes” of the century was perpetrated in a McDonald’s diner in China. A young woman was killed by missionaries of a religious movement she had refused to listen to. Immediately, Chinese propaganda attributed the crime to the largest and most persecuted Christian new religious movement in China, The Church of Almighty God (CAG).
This version of the facts was uncritically repeated by some Western correspondents in Beijing, which caused enormous problems and suffering for the CAG members, not only in China but throughout the world. Ten years thereafter, we know it was one of the largest Chinese fake news operations. The CAG was not responsible for the murder. The crime really happened, but had been perpetrated by a different new religious movement.
29.11.2024 – The McDonald’s murder in Zhaoyuan, 2014–2024. 2. Slander campaigns against The Church of Almighty God
Bitter Winter – As reported in the first article of this series, in 2017 I went to China with other Western scholars to discuss The Church of Almighty God (CAG) with Chinese police officers and scholars. The claim that we agreed with our Chinese counterparts published by government-controlled Chinese media totally misrepresented our position, but confirmed the CCP regarded the exchanges as important.
The Chinese conference panel, which included senior officials of Office 610, i.e., the central police office combating “cults,” admitted that members (not only leaders) of the CAG, as soon as they were identified as such, were routinely arrested and sent either to jail or to “reeducation camps” to be “reformed.” They insisted that this was justified because the CAG was guilty of “serious crimes.”
Catholics
19.11.2024 – Shanghai’s catholic Bishop Shen Bin announces his program: study Xi Jinping, not the Pope
Bitter Winter – The saga of Bishop Shen Bin’s appointment to the all-important Catholic Diocese of Shanghai officially ended on July 15, 2023.
On April 4, 2023, Bishop Shen Bin, until then Bishop of Haimen, was installed by the CCP as the new Bishop of Shanghai. The Vatican declared officially that “the Holy See learned from the media of the installation” only the morning it happened.
Falun Gong
29.11.2024 – Chinese Judge: “We can be lenient regarding murder or arson, but not for Falun Gong cases”
Minghui – A former radio station chief editor was devastated to find out that his pension had been suspended after serving a three-year term for his faith in Falun Gong. When he filed a complaint against the social security bureau, the judge said to him, “We can be lenient regarding murder or arson, but not for Falun Gong cases.” Facing ongoing harassment after that, Mr. Chen Xingbo has been forced to live away from home.
Mr. Chen, 72, of Xingtai City, Hebei Province, had previously been arrested on November 24, 2019 and sentenced to three years by the Xiangdu District Court on September 10, 2020.
28.11.2024 – Once jailed for 12 years, Shandong man stands trial for his faith again
Minghui – A 62-year-old resident of Tai’an City, Shandong Province, stood trial on November 13, 2024 for practicing Falun Gong.
Mr. Zhao Weidong testified in his own defense. His lawyer also called for his acquittal as no law in China criminalizes Falun Gong. The prosecutor recommended a prison sentence of 3-7 years with three years probation. The presiding judge, who appeared sympathetic, told Mr. Zhao at the end of the hearing, “I suggest you just practice [Falun Gong] at home. For the sake of your children, do not go out [to raise awareness of the persecution].” It is unclear when he’ll make a ruling.
Mr. Zhao remains at the Tai’an City Detention Center.
23.11.2024 – Meizhou City, Guangdong Province: Six women sentenced to up to 5.5 years for practicing Falun Gong
Minghui – Six Meizhou City, Guangdong Province, residents were recently sentenced to prison with heavy fines for practicing Falun Gong.
Ms. Zeng Xiuqiong, 59, was given 5.5 years and fined 90,000 yuan. Ms. Xie Guofen, 62, was given 4.5 years and fined 70,000 yuan. Ms. Li Lizhen, 64, was given 4 years and fined 60,000 yuan. Ms. Zhang Taofeng, 47, was given 2 years and fined 30,000 yuan. Ms. Liu Meifen, 43, and Ms. Huang Shuzhen, 75, were both sentenced to one year with 1.5 years probation and 15,000 yuan fine.
Protestants
29.11.2024 – Wuhan Rongguang Church elects new management committee
China christian daily – Rongguang Church in Wuhan convened its Eighth Believers’ Representative Conference on November 23, during which the Eighth Democratic Management Committee was elected.
The meeting nominated 120 representatives, accounting for 5% of the congregation, with 115 representatives attending while five were absent due to personal reasons. The meeting was conducted legally.
According to the host church, Rev. Hu Kaiming, president of the Christian Councils of Wuhan City and Hubei Province and the church’s director, delivered a report on the work of the church’s Seventh Democratic Management Committee. He reviewed the achievements of the past five years with future directions, featuring five key areas: maintaining a firm political stance, advancing the sinicization of Christianity, strengthening pastoral service, enhancing the church’s internal development, and promoting public charity.
26.11.2024 – Chinese christian human rights defender Ms. Zhang Shan arrested again
China Aid – After three months of detention, the authorities have completely blocked information about the case of prominent human rights defender Zhang Zhan. Recently, it was rumored that Zhang Zhan had been formally arrested.
According to Rights Defense News, on November 26, 2024, with the approval of the Shanghai Pudong Procuratorate, the Pudong Branch of the Shanghai Public Security Bureau arrested Zhang Zhan on November 18, 2024, on suspicion of “picking quarrels and provoking trouble”. Zhang Zhan is currently being held at the Pudong New District Detention Center.
25.11.2024 – Wan changchun faints during trial of Bengbu living stone reformed Church case
China Aid – November 22, 2024 marked the final day of a four-day trial for four Christians from the Bengbu Living Stone Reformed Church who were charged with “fraud” due to their religious belief.
Family members of the four defendants arrived at the court at 6 AM to request permission to attend the trial but were denied by the court. They could only pray outside the courthouse. When the four Christians were transported to court in separate police vehicles, although the windows were tinted black and completely closed, preventing the brothers and sisters outside from seeing those inside, they still waved vigorously, calling out the four Christians’ names and shouting “Stay strong!”
21.11.2024 – Chinese cultural influence in Bible interpretation in government-sanctioned churches
China Aid – The Yunnan Provincial Official Christian Association organized a lecture on the concept of “God” in Chinese classical culture in Yunnan, interpreting Christianity through Chinese classical culture. This lecture seeks to adapt the Christian church to socialist society under the background and political call of “Sinicization of Religion.”
According to the China Christian Council (CCC & TSPM), on November 1, the Yunnan Christian Association invited Professor Li Guangliang from the School of Law and Sociology at Yunnan Normal University to Kunming to hold a special lecture.
The lecture, titled “The ‘God’ and ‘Heaven’ in Ancient China,” was held at the Yunnan Theological College. The lecture aimed to reconstruct the sacred connection between the Bible and Chinese classical culture, using Chinese classical studies to interpret Christianity, promote mutual interpretation between the two, and integrate religious doctrines with Chinese culture.
18.11.2024 – Unveiling the truth: Are underground churches truly underground? Understanding ‘the fraud’ charges against underground christians
China Aid – Four Christians from the Living Stone Reformed Church in Bengbu, Anhui Province, including Wan Changchun, Xue Shaoqiang, Cao Binting, and Wan Chunqin, will be formally brought to trial from November 19-22, 2024, for the crime of “fraud”.
They were arrested on April 11, 2023, and have been in custody for more than a year and seven months, greatly exceeding the legal detention period. Now only two or three days away from the court date, countless people were paying attention to this case. This case not only directly involves the personal interests of the four citizens, but also has a bearing on the image and credibility of the People’s Republic of China. In this article, we will make a simple, common sense analysis of the crime of “fraud” of the four, so that readers around the world can make their own judgments to see if this case is ridiculous or not.