Prayer and religion banned in Chinese hospitals

The Communist Party is believed to be becoming progressively more suspicious of the influence of Christianity, which is experiencing significant growth in China. Reuters

Hospitals in an eastern province of China have banned all kinds of religious activity, including receiving pastors, praying for the sick and preaching, in the latest crackdown on Christianity.

According to Asia News, an official Roman Catholic press agency, public hospitals have been told that "all forms of religious activity are banned". The Wenzhou Central Hospital was told to post the notice its walls, and nurses and other medical staff were told to inform patients and visitors.

Wenzhou, in Zhejiang province, has been dubbed the 'Jerusalem of China' because it has had so much missionary activity in the past, and now has around a million Christians living in the city.

"The religious activities in the hospital have never been encouraged," an unnamed employee at the hospital told the news agency. "But some prayed silently, which is understandable: on the other hand we are all here to support patients. But others made noise, reading the Bible or reciting prayers aloud. And that's not good".

Two years ago, authorities in the Zhejiang region started to remove crosses from buildings, and when two pastors protested they were sentenced to 12 and 14 years of imprisonment. Many human rights lawyers who have worked on behalf of these churches have been arrested.

Bob Fu at US based Christian group China Aid told Radio Free Asia that the crackdown in Zhejiang is spreading to neighbouring provinces, including Anhui and Inner Mongolia.

"The Chinese government is taking its persecution of religious believers to another level," Fu told RFA. "They are doing it in the name of the rule of law, but actually it's very clear that there is an element of wanting all religion to be Chinese in character. The international community should be aware that are stepping up the pressure on religious practice, so that there is gradually less and less freedom."

International Christian Concern, a US-based persecution charity, said: "After the demolition of crosses and churches in the province of Zhejiang, the Chinese government has decided to target hospitals. The majority of the hospitals in the region have basically been operated in some capacity by religious organizations. The Communist Party of China has determined Zhejiang to be the front lines of their battle to eliminate Christianity from its shores."

China Aid has recently highlighted a central Chinese province that stopped Christians from receiving welfare because they were attending church.

A new report from the US State Department criticised China for its persecution of believers despite the constitutional right of freedom of religion. "Over this past year, there continued to be reports that the government physically abused, detained, arrested, tortured, sentenced to prison, or harassed adherents of both registered and unregistered religious groups for activities related to their religious beliefs and practices," the report said.

related articles
China: Christians threatened with having welfare payments cut unless they stop going to church

China: Christians threatened with having welfare payments cut unless they stop going to church

Dozens of Chinese Christians apply for 'religious persecution' asylum in Czech Republic

Dozens of Chinese Christians apply for 'religious persecution' asylum in Czech Republic

Religious freedom: 3 ways Christianity threatens dictatorships
Religious freedom: 3 ways Christianity threatens dictatorships

Religious freedom: 3 ways Christianity threatens dictatorships

5 countries where you might not know that Christians face persecution
5 countries where you might not know that Christians face persecution

5 countries where you might not know that Christians face persecution

Joshua Wong: Christian activist who took on the Chinese government sentenced in Hong Kong
Joshua Wong: Christian activist who took on the Chinese government sentenced in Hong Kong

Joshua Wong: Christian activist who took on the Chinese government sentenced in Hong Kong

News
Telling the untold story behind elections
Telling the untold story behind elections

There’s an untold story about the elections we have just had across England - and maybe about every election that ever gets held anywhere. It’s a story that matters just as much as the election results. 

Madagascan Christians called to lead by example in struggling country
Madagascan Christians called to lead by example in struggling country

“We cannot serve Jesus Christ in church, and the devil outside.”

Churches and cathedrals help kick off VE Day 80th anniversary commemorations
Churches and cathedrals help kick off VE Day 80th anniversary commemorations

Churches and cathedrals are playing a big part in this week's 80th anniversary commemorations of Victory in Europe - or VE - Day which marked the end of World War II in Europe in 1945. 

Faith, justice and change: Niall Cooper reflects on nearly three decades with Church Action on Poverty
Faith, justice and change: Niall Cooper reflects on nearly three decades with Church Action on Poverty

After 28 years at the helm of Church Action on Poverty, Niall Cooper is stepping down from his role as director – marking the end of a remarkable chapter in Christian social justice and offering a moment for both reflection and gratitude.