China Forcibly Removes 900 Church Crosses in a Single Province, Threatens Christians

China’s government forcibly removed crosses from more than 900 churches in a single province the first half of this year, warning church members that opposition would lead to dire consequences, according to a new report.

Bitter Winter, which monitors religious liberty violations within China, says 906 crosses were pulled down by cranes and other machines in the province of Anhui from January through July. Anhui has the second-largest Christian population in China, Bitter Winter said.

All 906 cross removals involved churches within the legal but heavily restricted Three-Self Patriotic Movement.

One church member said government officials warned Christians: “Protesting cross demolitions means protesting against the government.”

“I feel sad thinking that all crosses in our church have been demolished,” the church member told Bitter Winter. “Even though it is a symbol of our faith, who dares to disobey the central government order?”

Further, government officials said “all crosses taller than government buildings must be demolished because they overshadow state institutions,” the church member told Bitter Winter.

Chinese President Xi Jinping “does not allow churches to have Western crosses,” the church member said.

Churches who oppose the government’s action can lose their social benefits, such as “pensions and poverty-alleviation subsidies,” a church…