China’s state-controlled media announced that new policies under the “Administrative Measures for Religious Groups” will be enforced on religious groups and organizations in the country (1). According to Bitter Winter, a religious liberty and human rights watchdog in China, from 1 February 2020 policies proposed back in 2017 will come into full effect and require a total submission to the Chinese Communist Party under President Xi Jinping (2).
All religions will be obligated to “spread the principles of the CCP” and religious personnel and religious citizens are “to support the leadership of the Chinese Communist Party, supporting the socialist system, adhering to and following the path of socialism with Chinese characteristics.” Article 5 of the new policy states, “Religious organizations must adhere to the leadership of the Chinese Communist Party, observe the constitution, laws, regulations, ordinances, and policies, adhere to the principle of independence and self-government, adhere to the directives on religions in China, implementing the values of socialism.”
Article 25 proposes the following laws,
[1] It shall be responsible for the establishment, change, cancellation of registration of religious organizations, and business review before the approval of the articles of association; review of the annual work report of religious organizations; together with relevant authorities, it shall guide the registration and liquidation of religious organizations;
[2] It shall supervise and guide religious groups to carry out activities and perform functions in accordance with the laws and regulations, and to deal with violations of laws, regulations, rules, policies and the articles of association of religious groups according to the law;
[3] Examining, supervising, and managing matters that religious groups will submit to the religious affairs department of the people’s government for approval in accordance with the law;
[4] It shall supervise and guide religious groups to establish and improve rules and regulations in accordance with the Constitution, laws, regulations, rules, policies, and actual work needs, and strengthen ideological, organizational, style, and institution-building;
[5] Other matters that require guidance and management as provided by laws and regulations.”
Such laws will compel religious persons, groups, and communities to submit all relevant decisions for their operations to the approval of the party while “administrative bodies” will control them through “guidance and supervision.” These bodies will deal with violations of laws, regulations, rules, and policies imposed on them by the CCP. Without the approval of the CCP, no activities in the name of religious groups can be carried out. As such, house churches and any other unregistered religious body will be operating illegally and therefore ripe for punishment. Sociologist of religion Massimo Introvigne states that this “rings a death bell for the Gray Market activities of house churches, dissident Catholic communities, and other unregistered religious bodies” (3) Religious organizations are also to promote the CCP and spread its ideology, rather than religion itself.
Importantly this legislation comes at a time when China has detained over one million Uighurs and other Muslim minorities in detention centers in the northwest of the country for so-called “re-education.” The state is also attempting to rewrite the Bible and the Qur’an to reflect socialist values. Also recently a pastor was sentenced to nine years in jail after increased crackdowns on unauthorized religious groups. Several churches have been ordered closed or destroyed by the government and members are often subject to harassment from the state.
References
1. Fox News. 2020. China imposes harsh new rules governing religious groups in 2020. Available.
2. Bitter Winter. 2019. China’s New Measures for Religious Groups 2019: From Bad to Worse. Available
3. Introvigne, Massimo. 2020. Religion in China in 2020: from bad to worse. Available.
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JANUARY 9, 2020 No Church for Young Men ERIC SAMMONS “Children are the future of the Church.” How often are such truisms used to explain the extensive focus on a single demographic group within a parish? From youth ministry to religious education to Catholic schools, most Catholic parishes direct a large amount of their limited resources […]
The feminization of society has had a great impact on the religious life of children; not all of it good. In short, if a father does not go to church—no matter how faithful his wife’s devotions—only one child in 50 will become a regular worshipper. If a father does go regularly, regardless of the practice of the mother, between two-thirds and three-quarters of their children will become churchgoers (regular and irregular). — ABYSSUS ABYSSUM INVOCAT / DEEP CALLS TO DEEP Bog reče u svom Svetištu: † “Šekem ću razdijelit kličući, * dolinu Sukot izmjeriti. Moj je Gilead, moj Manaše, * Efrajim mi kaciga, Judeja žezlo moje!
Moab je sud iz kojeg se umivam, † na Edom ću baciti obuću, * nad Filistejcem slaviti pobjedu!” Tko će me dovesti do utvrđena grada, * tko će me dovesti do Edoma?
Zar nećeš ti, o Bože, što nas odbaci? * Zar više nećeš, Bože, s četama našim? Pomozi nam protiv dušmana, * jer ljudska je pomoć ništavna! S pomoću Božjom hrabro ćemo se boriti, * a on će zgaziti naše dušmane.
Slava Ocu i Sinu * i Duhu Svetomu. Kako bijaše na početku, † tako i sada i vazda * i u vijeke vjekova. Amen.
ČAS Antifona: Otajstvo, pred vjekovima i pred naraštajima skriveno, sada se očitovalo nama. ČAS Antifona: Krist dođe i navijesti mir vama daleko i mir onima blizu. ČAS Antifona: Evo postavih te za svjetlost pucima da spas moj do nakraj zemlje doneseš. DOPUNSKA PSALMODIJA ZA TREĆI, ŠESTI I DEVETI ČAS
TREĆI ČAS Kratko Čitanje Iz 2, 3-4 Iz Siona će Zakon doći, iz Jeruzalema riječ Gospodnja. On će biti sudac narodima, mnogim će sudit plemenima, i oni će mačeve prekovati u plugove, a koplja u srpove. Neće više narod dizat mača protiv naroda nit se više učit ratovanju.
R. Na zemlji se pojavio. O. Među ljudima udomio.
ŠESTI ČAS Kratko Čitanje Iz 9,1 Narod koji je u tmini hodio svjetlost vidje veliku; one što mrklu zemlju obitavahu svjetlost jarka obasja.
R. Puci će vidjeti Pravednika tvoga. O. Svi kraljevi tvoga Slavljenika.
DEVETI ČAS Kratko Čitanje Iz 60, 4-5 Podigni oči, obazri se: svi se sabiru, k tebi dolaze. Sinovi tvoji dolaze izdaleka, kćeri ti nose u naručju. Gledat ćeš tad i sjati radošću, igrat će srce i širiti se, jer k tebi će poteći bogatstvo mora, blago naroda k tebi će pritjecati.
R. Blagoslivljajte, puci, Boga našega! O. Razglasujte hvalu njegovu!
Molitva Bože, po svome si Sinu svim narodima očitovao svoje vječno svjetlo. Daj da i mi sve više spoznajemo svog Otkupitelja i stignemo u njegovu vječnu slavu. Po Gospodinu.
O. Amen. Blagoslivljajmo Gospodina.. O. Bogu hvala. http://radio-medjugorje.com/4390-karmel-bozjeg-milosrda-pozvao-mlade-na-molitveni-docek-nove-godine-u-medugorju
Image may contain: 2 people The Virtue of Charity
CHRIST tells you:
MY CHILD, at your baptism I placed the virtue of charity in your soul, expecting you to develop it after you had reached the age of reason. This is the virtue which causes you to love Me above all things for My own sake. It also enables you to love others for My sake.
2. This virtue is your highest perfection. There is no greater achievement in human life than to love Me, the Supreme Good. No natural love can compare with the supernatural love of charity. Charity loves what is best, and it loves for the highest reason. The man of charity loves Me above all else because I am the Highest Good.
3. Charity makes a man more God-like. You read in Scripture that “God is Love.” By charity you become like Me, loving all that is right and good.
4. Charity is the perfection of all other love. It reaches out to My perfect goodness and places Me first among its preferences. Even in his love for created things, the man of charity seeks them because they help him come closer to Me in daily life. He no longer accepts any person or thing according to his likes and dislikes, but according to their goodness; that is, according to their ability to draw his thoughts and desires more firmly toward Me. He prefers those persons and things which help him please Me most.
5. Develop this holy virtue in your daily life. Do it firstly by keeping My commandments, secondly by honoring Me frequently in private prayers and acts of public worship, thirdly by dealing unselfishly with people for My sake.
6. True, you have to protect yourself against the selfishness and bad will of people on earth, but in so doing beware of being bitter, inconsiderate, or unjust toward them. For My sake wish everyone well, and as far as you are able, help those in need. In this way you will prove that you possess genuine charity in your soul.
THINK: At baptism charity was planted as a seed in my soul. As I reached the age of reason and learned of God’s holy gift, I was expected to develop it by a continual effort to use it. My efforts plus God’s further graces make the seed of charity grow within me. How have I used this precious gift? Without charity all other virtues lose their supernatural value. This means that I cannot gain Heaven until I have learned to practice charity in my daily life. As I advance in this virtue I become more like God, thinking and acting more and more like Him. I must begin today living as Jesus would live this life of mine. In spite of many failures, I must go on trying.
PRAY: My God, You desire to make me eternally great. You want me to reflect Your perfection in my daily thoughts, words, and actions. May I begin at long last to be a reflection of Your love in everything I think, say and do. I desire to be patient, kind, thoughtful, helpful, and long suffering, just as You have been with me, a sinner. In spite of my selfish nature, I want to love You as You deserve. In all things let me never forget Your wisdom and goodness, so that I may always consider and follow what pleases You. My model in all this is Jesus, Your divine Son. He is the model of perfect charity. Let me strive each day to become more like Him and less like myself. Amen.
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Den tors 9 jan. 2020 kl 14:27 skrev Bishop’s Encyclopedia of Religion, Society and Philosophy :
> James Bishop posted: ” China’s state-controlled media announced that new > policies under the “Administrative Measures for Religious Groups” will be > enforced on religious groups and organizations in the country (1). > According to Bitter Winter, a religious liberty and human right” >
[…] we noted the crackdown on religious freedom in China as new laws proposed by the atheist state will come into full effect in February. These […]