・・Cruxは、カトリック専門のニュース、分析、評論を網羅する米国のインターネット・メディアです。 2014年9月に米国の主要日刊紙の一つである「ボストン・グローブ」 (欧米を中心にした聖職者による幼児性的虐待事件摘発のきっかけとなった世界的なスクープで有名。映画化され、日本でも全国上映された)の報道活動の一環として創刊されました。現在は、米国に本拠を置くカトリック団体とパートナーシップを組み、多くのカトリック関係団体、機関、個人の支援を受けて、バチカンを含め,どこからも干渉を受けない、独立系カトリック・メディアとして世界的に高い評価を受けています。「カトリック・あい」は、カトリック専門の非営利メディアとして、Cruxが発信するニュース、分析、評論の日本語への翻訳、転載について了解を得て、掲載しています。Crux is dedicated to smart, wired and independent reporting on the Vatican and worldwide Catholic Church. That kind of reporting doesn’t come cheap, and we need your support. You can help Crux by giving a small amount monthly, or with a onetime gift. Please remember, Crux is a for-profit organization, so contributions are not tax-deductible.
The “Patriotic Education Law of the People’s Republic of China” is our country’s first law on the theme of patriotism. The formulation and implementation of the Patriotic Education Law, and the promotion and protection of patriotic education in the new era through the rule of law, are of great and far-reaching significance for inheriting and carrying forward the national spirit, gathering the people’s strength, promoting the construction of a strong country and national rejuvenation.
To conscientiously study, publicize, and implement the Patriotic Education Law, inherit and carry forward the spirit of patriotism in our country’s religious circles, and enhance the national awareness, civic awareness, rule of law awareness, and patriotic sentiments of religious clergy and religious believers, we issue the following directives:
Adhere to the principles of patriotism, love for the party and love for socialism. Strengthen patriotic education and deeply understand that without the Chinese Communist Party, there would be no New China, there would be no socialism with Chinese characteristics, it would be impossible to realize the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation, and there would be no good possibility of a healthy life for the various religions in our country today, and no happy life for the vast number of religious believers.
Our country’s religious circles must learn, think, and practice Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, especially General Secretary Xi Jinping’s important expositions on religious work, firmly support the “two establishments” and resolutely achieve the “two safeguards” to safeguard national unity and peace. We should focus on national unity, understand the idea of building a socialist modern country in a comprehensive way, and realize the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation as a distinct theme, strengthen ideological guidance, cultural cultivation, educational guidance, and practical cultivation, build a solid sense of the Chinese nation’s community, and continuously enhance our respect for the great motherland, the identity of the Chinese nation, Chinese culture, the Chinese Communist Party, and socialism with Chinese characteristics.
Adhere to and carry forward the fine tradition of patriotism. Our country’s religious circles have a long and profound tradition of patriotism. Buddhism advocates “dignifying the land, benefiting and loving people,” Taoism insists on “helping the world and benefiting people, protecting the country and loving the people,” Islam advocates “patriotism is part of faith,” Catholicism emphasizes that “patriotism is a commandment of God,” and [Protestant] Christianity requires that “a good Christian should be a good citizen.”
These are the enduring spiritual riches of our country’s religious circles. We must deeply explore the patriotic values contained in Chinese religious thought, actively publicize the glorious history of the unity and struggle of our country’s religious circles under the leadership of the Chinese Communist Party, and tell vivid stories of patriotism, love of religion, and dedication to society with heart and soul, so that patriotism can become the firm belief, spiritual strength, and conscious action of religious clergy and religious believers.
Persist in filling up our country’s religion with excellent traditional Chinese culture. Strengthen cultural self-confidence, inherit and develop China’s excellent traditional culture, carry forward socialist core values, strengthen religious ideological construction, deeply explore the content of the teachings and canons that are conducive to social harmony, the progress of the times, and healthy civilization, and make adjustments to the teachings and canons so that they are in line with the development and progress of contemporary Chinese requirements and in line with the official interpretation of China’s excellent traditional culture, and promote the deepening and solidification of the Sinicization of religion in our country.
Strengthen the study and use of the country’s common spoken and written language by religious circles in the process of interpreting and preaching scriptures, organize religious clergy and religious believers to recite Chinese classics, and carry out learning and experience activities for China’s excellent traditional culture. Celebrate the Spring Festival, Lantern Festival, Qingming Festival, Dragon Boat Festival, Mid-Autumn Festival, and other important festivals together. Through colorful folk cultural activities, we can experience traditional culture and enhance our feelings for our country.
Continue to carry out patriotic education and practice patriotic activities. Make full use of commemorations of major national historical events, national public memorial ceremonies, patriotic education bases, etc. to carry out extensive patriotic education and inspire patriotism among religious clergy and religious believers.
Continue to carry out education on the history of the Party, the history of the New China, the history of reform and opening up, the history of socialist development, the history of the development of the Chinese nation, and education on the theme of loving the Party, patriotism, and socialism, and further promote the “Four Advances” activities at religious venues. Integrate patriotism throughout the entire process of education and teaching in religious schools and into various subjects and teaching materials.
Adhere to comprehensive and strict governance of religions, strengthen the self-construction of religious groups, and establish a good image of patriotism and love of religion in the religious community. Carry out publicity and education on the socialist rule of law, and guide religious clergy and religious believers to firmly establish the awareness that the state is greater than religion, the state law is greater than religious rules, and the people are citizens first.
Relying on magazines, websites, public accounts, etc. sponsored by religious circles, we will produce, broadcast, and publish excellent works on patriotic themes, set up special columns, strengthen publicity and reporting, sing the main theme of patriotism, and strive to comprehensively promote the construction of a strong country and the great cause of national rejuvenation. We will contribute wisdom and strength.
・・Cruxは、カトリック専門のニュース、分析、評論を網羅する米国のインターネット・メディアです。 2014年9月に米国の主要日刊紙の一つである「ボストン・グローブ」 (欧米を中心にした聖職者による幼児性的虐待事件摘発のきっかけとなった世界的なスクープで有名。映画化され、日本でも全国上映された)の報道活動の一環として創刊されました。現在は、米国に本拠を置くカトリック団体とパートナーシップを組み、多くのカトリック関係団体、機関、個人の支援を受けて、バチカンを含め,どこからも干渉を受けない、独立系カトリック・メディアとして世界的に高い評価を受けています。「カトリック・あい」は、カトリック専門の非営利メディアとして、Cruxが発信するニュース、分析、評論の日本語への翻訳、転載について了解を得て、掲載しています。Crux is dedicated to smart, wired and independent reporting on the Vatican and worldwide Catholic Church. That kind of reporting doesn’t come cheap, and we need your support. You can help Crux by giving a small amount monthly, or with a onetime gift. Please remember, Crux is a for-profit organization, so contributions are not tax-deductible.
In August, Elder Zhu Longfei of Shunde’s Shengjia Church was detained, Guangzhou’s Huajing Church was banned, and Meizhou’s New Hope Church was raided and sealed.
n the government-controlled Three-Self Church—or else. A campaign against independent house churches has been conducted this month of August in Guangdong province.
Zhu Longfei, an elder of the Shengjia Church, located in the Shunde District of the prefecture-level city of Foshan, Guangdong, was detained on August 8. This is part of the calvary of Shengjia Church, which seems to have no end. The Shunde church was repeatedly “invited” to join the Three-Self Church and refused.
Devotees soon learned that their refusal came with a p
rice. Their pastor Deng Yanxiang and Wang Weicai, a businessman who had left his professional activity to become a full-time church co-worker in 2016, were increasingly harassed by the police.
On May 24, 2023, the Shengjia Mutual Learning and Mutual Aid Center, i.e., the Bible study training class of the Shengjia C
hurch, was raided by dozens of agents of the national security, the Shunde District Police, and the Ethnic and Religious Affairs Bureau. The church teaching and study materials were confiscated, and the church was sealed. Pastor Deng Yanxiang, Wang Weicai, and church workers Zhu Jianglong and Sister Zhu Qiaoling were detained. On May 25, all four were charged by the Shunde District Police with “illegal business operations,” now a popular trumped-up charge against house church leaders.
On June 28, they were formally arrested by the Shunde District Procuratorate. Yet, the Shengjia Church continued to operate, led by Elder Zhu Longfei and other co-workers. As mentioned earlier, on August 8, Zhu Longfei was also detained by the Shunde District Police, accused himself of “illegal business operations,” and taken to the Nanhai DistrictDetention Center in Foshan City, Guangdong, where the other leaders of the Shengjia Church had also been jailed.
On August 19, the Civil Affairs Bureau of Tianhe District, one of the eleven districts of Guangdong’s capital, Guangzhou City, issued a notice to ban Guangzhou Huajing Christian Church.
On August 20, 2023, as reported by local devotees through social media, the local police raided New Hope Church in the prefecture-level city of Meizhou, Guangdong, a city famously connected with the Hakka ethnic group. Two preachers were detained, and the church was sealed.