ICC Note: According to multiple recent reports, Chinese authorities have banned minors from attending church services in several provinces, including Zhejiang, Anhui, Jiangsu, and Shandong, in an attempt to restrict them from participating in religious activities. Youth summer camp cannot take place, and government would send officials to monitor churches and activities. Crackdown on churches continues to rise in China.
09/01/2017 China (Christian Times) – Chinese authorities have issued an order banning minors from attending church services as part of the government’s continuing effort to crack down on religion.
Several provinces across China have reportedly barred children from joining religious groups and attending religious sermons. Over one hundred churches in Wenzhou in China’s Zhejiang province have reportedly received a notice from the government informing them that minors are not allowed to enter churches.
Churches have been prohibited from organizing a youth summer camp and minors have been forbidden from participating in religious activities.
Local government offices in Zhejiang have reportedly assigned officials to monitor the churches and their activities.
Officials have also vowed to investigate government approved churches and underground congregations that operate outside the Beijing-run Catholic and Protestant churches, Daily Mail reported, citing UCA News.
According to China Aid, the government has also placed restrictions on church activities in the provinces of Anhui, Jiangsu and Shandong.
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