The Chinese Government has banned children from
attending churches in the country in a bid to tighten their grip on religious
activities.
The ban also prohibits children from attending religious sermons
and other activities in several provinces across the country.
The ban comes after over one hundred churches in Wenzhou, China's Zhejiang province reportedly received a
notice from government officials informing them that young people will be
banned from entering churches.
According to UCA
News, the ban also promises that officials will investigate
government approved churches and underground congregations who operate outside
the tightly controlled Beijing-run Catholic and Protestant Churches.
A researcher for Amnesty International, William Nee, who spoke
to MailOnline UK, said,
“At this point, it’s unclear how widespread the ban on children attending
church services are in China, but these alarming reports seem to be coming in
from fairly diverse areas throughout the country.”
Nee further said that the move reflects the tightening control of
religion in “particular Islam and Christianity under the present
administration” in the Asian country.
She added, “In an important speech on religion last year, the President, Xi Jinping,
said that young people must study science, believe in science and develop a
‘correct’ worldview and set of values.
“It could be that the government is concerned that young people
going to church or religious activities may challenge their monopoly on truth
and the government’s ability to instill its own historical narratives and
worldview through the public education system.”
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