by Karen Faulkner, Worthy News Correspondent
(Worthy News) - The International Christian Concern (ICC) advocacy group has reported that in continuing the ongoing suppression of Christianity and promotion of atheistic Sinicization in China, the ruling Chinese Communist Party (CCP) held two conferences last month at which further restrictions on Christians and citizens of other religions were discussed.
Starting on June 27, a two-day conference titled ‘Christian Implementation of Strict Governance of Religion Exchange Meeting’ took place in Xi’an, Shaanxi. “With mostly leaders of the government-controlled Three-Self Patriotic Movement (TSPM) church in attendance, meeting organizers affirmed that China’s Communist Party needed to gain further control of Christianity in China,” ICC explained in its report.
“Officials reiterated that church leaders must make President Xi Jinping’s teachings on socialism and other communist teachings central to any preaching and sermons in Chinese churches. Communist officials urged TSPM church leaders to surrender more control over church affairs, including preaching,” ICC said.
Attended by many senior CCP officials, on June 26, a conference titled ‘Sinicization of Religion’ took place in Beijing, according to ICC reports. Notably, keynote speaker Shi Taifeng, minister of the Central United Front Work Department, told those in attendance: ‘Sinicization of religion is the only way to actively guide religions to adapt to socialist society.’” ICC said.
In a current website statement about the situation facing Christians in China, the Open Doors international Christian advocacy stated: “The Chinese Communist Party's goal is to make sure churches don't fall out of line with official viewpoints. In the case of official churches, this means they are encouraged to praise and pledge allegiance to the Communist Party and its ideology. Churches that claim Christ as King are viewed with suspicion, especially since Christianity is seen as a primarily Western influence.”