by Karen Faulkner, Worthy News Correspondent
(Worthy News) - A rights group that focuses on China has reported that, in the run-up to the 100th anniversary of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) on July 1, the CCP intensified its nation-wide censorship of religious books and materials, Assist News reports. ChinaAid said in its report that a number of schools received notifications forbidding students to read religious books or use other faith-based materials.
ChinaAid noted in particular that the CCP does not publicize its censorship policies through official channels, but makes them known through internal notices. “For years, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has sent administrative orders (from higher to lower levels) through internal documents and internal notices that have contradicted the Constitution. Authorities do not, however, make the administrative orders available on official channels and public media [outlets],” ChinaAid said.
Assist News reports that a primary school teacher from Chengde Elementary School in China’s Qingyun County sent a WeChat group message to parents, informing them that the CCP had sent a notice that students are forbidden from reading religious books.
According to ChinaAid, teachers in other schools, including those in Qingyun County and Shandong Province, also received such notices. “Usually, publicity department personnel, not teachers, send this type of notice to local education commissions, and in turn, they forward the notice to all schools,” Assist News said.
In a statement about the restrictions ChinaAid said: “With the CCP’s recent, intense wave of suppressing Christianity, authorities intervene all online and onsite religious gatherings.”
“Officials fabricate charges to fine, detain, and arrest pastors, preachers, and Christians who speak publicly about their faith. They ban church schools and only permit Three-self churches to sell the Holy Bible, banning it from other churches. CCP authorities also ban the Holy Bible, Christian books, and WeChat Christian official accounts on the internet,” ChinaAid said.