Chinese Churches ‘Must Support’ Communist Leaders and Gov’t, New Law Says

New regulations that went into effect in China this month require churches and other religious organizations to “support the leadership” of the Communist Party and “adhere to” the government’s teachings.

Further, all churches and religious organizations must be “examined and approved” before they can legally worship.

The new regulations, dubbed the “Administrative Measures for Religious Groups,” were passed in 2019 and went into effect Feb. 1. Bitter Winter, a watchdog that reports on China’s religious liberty violations, released the first English translation of the new rules. 

“A religious organization can be recognized as such only when it has been examined and approved by the religious affairs department of the people’s government, and register with the civil affairs department of the people’s government, in accordance with the national regulations on the administration of social organizations, and on religious affairs,” Article 3 of the new regulations states. “Without the approval of the religious affairs department of the people’s government, or registration with the civil affairs department of the people’s government, no religious activities in the name of religious organizations are allowed.”

Article 5 says churches and other religious organizations “must support the leadership of the Communist Party of China” and “adhere to the…