Posted on 11/15/2009 6:49:51 AM PST by SeekAndFind
BEIJING — Followers of an unapproved church in Beijing were again forced by the government to find a new place to worship Sunday, a move one analyst suggested would be a test for President Barack Obama on religious freedom during his first visit to the country.
Worship in China, governed by the officially atheist Communist Party, is allowed only in state-approved churches, but millions of people belong to unregistered churches that often face official harassment.
Sunday's banishment was the latest for the Shouwang church, one of the largest underground churches in China with about 800 members. It was forced to hold services in a park earlier this month after being kicked out of a rented indoor area. Photos and a video posted on the church's Web site, which was later blocked, showed hundreds of members gathered, holding snow-flecked umbrellas and Bibles.
On Sunday, police blocked church members again from meeting at the park, and hundreds ended up at a performance hall elsewhere in the city.
District police referred questions to the Beijing public security bureau, where calls rang unanswered Sunday. Calls to the State Religious Affairs Bureau also went unanswered.
Another well-known underground church in Shanghai, Wanbang, also has been told to close.
Harassing the two prominent unregistered churches is likely to intimidate other smaller churches. Members of the Beijing church said Sunday they have never experienced such harassment from authorities before.
Obama, who was to arrive in Shanghai later Sunday, will be closely watched during his visit for signs he will speak out on human rights, including religious freedom. Leaders of churches like Shouwang said if Obama doesn't speak up, the Chinese government will crack down even more.
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Hmmm, It's Sunday.
Maybe Zer0 could find a church in China to attend.
What's he going to say to China? Cut this out or I won't let you buy anymore of my worthless debt? If it were a mosque that might get some passion from him, but for a church, not bloody likely.
Not holding my breath that Zero will say ANYTHING about human rights and religious persecution in China...,.
0bama is irrelevant to the discussion.
I’m looking forward to the Day when Jesus returns, and among the many wonderful and amazing things He will do, He is going to kick some MAJOR Communist ass in Beijing.
(Washington too, but that’s another story)
They aren't testing him. They're trying to impress him. And I'm sure he is impressed. Obama would love to eliminate what he calls "bitter people" and "old attitudes".
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