Beijing clamps down on foreign clergy activities

The move by China’s United Front will severely limit foreign missionary activity in that nation. The new regulations, which go into force on May 1, state that “collective religious activities organised by foreigners in China are restricted to foreign participants only”, with few exceptions.

The restrictions apply to believers of any religion, strictly prohibiting non-Chinese citizens residing in the country from establishing religious organisations, preaching without authorisation, founding religious schools, producing or selling religious books, accepting religious donations or recruiting Chinese citizens as religious followers.

Published on April 1 by the National Religious Affairs Administration, a branch of the United Front Work Department, the rules consist of 38 articles placing restrictions on foreign nationals’ ability to organise religious activities in the country.

The regulations further stipulate that only Chinese clergy should preside over religious activities for foreigners at government-approved churches and temples. And foreign clergy who enter China with a religious status may only preach if they are invited by one of the Chinese state-run national religious organisations and approved by the United Front’s religious affairs administration.

Those accepted must also receive approval that the content of their preaching “does not interfere with China’s religious affairs”.

Beijing has long sought to maintain tight control over religious affairs, allowing only state-sanctioned religious institutions to operate legally.

The new regulations come after the National Joint Meeting of Religious Groups conference last month instructed state-approved religious groups, including the Chinese Patriotic Catholic Association, to integrate Chinese Communist Party principles into their sermons.

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China’s new religious restrictions severely limit foreign missionary activity | Catholic News Agency (By Courtney Mares/CNA)