The coastal city of Wenzhou is sometimes called China’s Jerusalem. Ringed by mountains and far from the capital, Beijing, it has long been a haven for a religion that China’s Communist leaders view with deep unease: Christianity. Most cities of its size, with about 9m people, have no more than a dozen or so visibly Read more
The blood of martyrs has proven to be the seed of the Church in China, as vibrant communities thrive despite government interference and restrictions. “We should be glad and rejoice. “As the Shanghai Catholic youths said: ‘We are greatly honored to have been born and lived at this important time.’” — Cardinal Kung Pin-mei, Sermon Read more
Zimbabwean president Robert Mugabe says he greatly prefers Chinese aid over that from Western nations because the latter want him to accept homosexuality. Mr Mugabe, said to be a practising Catholic, told a Chinese television interviewer that he resents Western aid because it always depends on conditions like accepting homosexuality. He praised Beijing for being Read more
As he flew over China’s airspace on his way to Korea, Pope Francis sent a telegram to President Xi Jinping. Soon after crossing into Chinese airspace on August 14, the Pope dispatched the message which read: “I extend the best wishes to your excellency and your fellow citizens, and I invoke the divine blessings of Read more
Cardinal Joseph Zen Ze-Kiun of Hong Kong has asked Pope Francis not to visit China, saying the Pontiff would be “manipulated”. Cardinal Zen told an Italian newspaper that this is the message he would give the Pope. Improving relations between Beijing and the Vatican has resulted in speculation that the Pope could reach out to Read more
Filipino Catholic bishops have joined calls for transparency following a recent defence deal between the United States and the Philippines. Last month’s deal could see the US return to former naval and air force bases in the north of the country, warned Philippines bishops’ conference spokesman Bishop Broderick Pabillo. “The problem is we don’t even Read more
Vietnam’s Catholic bishops have condemned China’s deployment of a deep sea oil rig in a disputed area of the South China Sea. “This situation can pose a high risk for a military conflict,” Archbishop Paul Bui Van Doc, president of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Vietnam, said in a letter on behalf of the bishops. Read more
Chinese Christians are facing the worst government crackdown in a decade, a leading activist says. Bob Fu said this after demolition teams started tearing down a newly-built Protestant cathedral in Wenzhou on April 28. The church had one of the largest congregations in China. Government officials claimed the church violated building codes. Mr Wu, a Read more
January 1 has come and gone and 2014 is already well on its way. However, in China, Taiwan, Singapore and many countries and communities around the world, the new year is just beginning. Observed on January 31 this year, the Chinese New Year rings in the Year of the Wood Horse, but it’s marked this time Read more
News that the Chinese government is easing its one-child policy is “very misleading” says Reggie Littlejohn, president of Women’s Rights Without Frontiers. On Friday, Reuters reported China was going to ease family planning restrictions allowing millions of families to have two children. Ruters called it the country’s most significant liberalisation of its strict one-child policy Read more