Posted on 12/30/2019 9:51:47 AM PST by SeekAndFind
China’s recent crackdown on Christianity has led to intensified enforcement of a law already on the books: children and youth cannot convert to the faith until they’re 18.
Churches across China are canceling Sunday School classes for children in light of the new clampdown, according to Mission Network News.
“One of the rules that have always been in their law is that you cannot proselytize or you cannot convert somebody under the age of 18,” Erik Burklin of China Partner told Mission Network News.
Previously, he said, parents “were having their children come to church and many churches started what we would call Sunday School classes.”
“They would use that time to teach children Bible verses and teach them Christian songs and so forth,” Burklin said.
Now, though, many churches “have been notified” by China’s “Religious Affairs Bureau” that “you can no longer conduct Sunday School classes in your churches,” he said.
“They even put signage up in the entrance of some churches to indicate that,” Burklin said.
This means China Partner’s YouthServe ministry – aimed at teaching church leaders how to conduct ministry for teens ages 13 to 18 – is “problematic,” Mission Network News reported.
During a recent trip, Burklin said, pastors approached him and said, “Please, we can no longer invite you to come and do these youth ministry trainings for us because we need to adhere to this new enforcement of this law.”
China Partner has discontinued the YouthServe initiative, according to Mission Network News.
Churches in China, Burklin said, must be creative if they are to reach children and teens with the gospel.
“One of the ways that we have learned also that we can reach that age group is through the parents,” Burklin said. “As we’ve started these marriage retreats and couples’ counseling sessions, [we’ve noticed that] many of these young couples have teenagers in their home.”
The Democrat Party admires Red China.
The Pope’s “deal” with the Chicoms gave them the cover to commit all this anti-Christian oppression.
That’s a new one, even for communists.
The fact that Christianity is ‘forbidden’ for the very young in that society will do what? That policy will make it more attractive, enticing, mysterious and desired.
Plain old human nature. We always want what we are told we cannot have.
Seems China never heard of Ireland and the “Hedge Priest”.
A religion you try to suppress only grows stronger.
Are they going to keep muzzies from turning harmless little babies into vicious jihadis by teaching them their religion?
Any day now I expect the pope to praise China for not setting the age to 21.
RE: Are they going to keep muzzies from turning harmless little babies into vicious jihadis by teaching them their religion?
In the Muslim part of China ( XinJiang ), Muslim Uighurs ( close to a million ) are being re-educated in camps even as I write this.
Imagine teenagers trying to get phony Bibles so they can get into churches.
That’s a new one, even for communists.
As a matter of fact, the Chinese crackdown on Islam within their borders has been particularly brutal.
I read not too long ago on FR how Christianity was taking over in Red China. It can only happen with help from above.
>>In the Muslim part of China ( XinJiang ), Muslim Uighurs ( close to a million ) are being re-educated in camps even as I write this.<<
What is worse than a commie?
A muzzie commie.
Maybe my fake Pope will stop coddling the commie Chinese now!
Now that China is destroying 3 of the sacraments traditionally involving (although not exclusive to) youths, baptism 1st Communion, and Confirmation.
You are absolutely correct. And this is one of the reasons why I have stopped attending mass regularily and will not drop a nickel in the basket until.we get a real Pope and not a commie pretender to the papacy.
My wife, and others, will say that the majority of donations to the parish stay in the parish.
Y reply is I have no other way of expressing my displeasure with the pope and what he is doing.....so this is my protest.
Wow. The communist Chinese are unfit for this galaxy. Good luck with that. And Happy New Year.
Ah, the old "freedom of religion" ploy.
I hadn't heard of "hedge schools" or "hedge priests." Now I know.
.
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I wonder how POPE bashers were treated there? :0) There were PLENTY of them and yet, the Catholic Church is still going strong.
I find it VERY difficult to believe ANY news that comes out of China. They don't want to lose control of their people. You can bash Popes there but NOT the commie government.
1. Agreed.
2. You mean GUNG HAY FAT CHOY.
Oh I forgot, them young startup Chinese have their own calendar and everything. Well, when they have their own Galaxy, they should give the big guy a call.
So you stopped attending Mass regularly. How can you forego the Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of Jesus because of ONE person? Sounds a bit like cutting off your nose to spite your face.
And if the next Pope fails to impress you will you will continue to "protest" that Pope? Is your criterion for being a Catholic: Either YOU like the Pope or you STOP going to Mass? It that the deal?
The money in the basket is for your diocese, not the Vatican. Your diocese uses it for maintaining the churches, schools, helping the homeless, soup kitchens, home for unwed mothers, home visits (visiting the sick), foundling hospitals, homes for the aged, tending to prisoners, housing, hospitals and other charitable services.
There ARE wealthy parishes and poor parishes...sometimes right in the same town or city. The wealthy don't ALWAYS give what they could and the poor sometime give more than they should. Remember the story of the poor widow? (Mark 12:41-44, Luke 21:1-4),
Our diocese has ONE collection ALL year for the Vatican. It's called "Peter' Pence." No one HAS to pay that "Peter's Pence" either. Donations are voluntary.
All the other collections are for the diocese and parishes.
The diocese has fund-raisers (also voluntary) for helping to support retired clergy and the religious.
Priests have served in all the wars providing comfort and care for the wounded and giving Last Rites for the dying...even for non-Catholic wounded.
Catholic Charities https://www.google.com/search?q=when+was+catholic+charities+founded&tbm=isch&source=iu&ictx=1&fir=PwxnS1TZmsSXWM%253A%252C9XmuG54lAovGzM%252C_&vet=1&usg=AI4_-kSh9xPAPo2im1AzI8OKCiyEZ7aKzw&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwiNxYPnnN7mAhWPG80KHUoBCQoQ_B0wAXoECAUQAw#imgrc=PwxnS1TZmsSXWM
It's been around quite a while.
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As for expressing your displeasure: why not WRITE to the bishop or archbishop in your area? Write to the local Cardinal of your area. There are THIRTY-FOUR of them in the U.S.A.
You could "google" which Cardinal is nearest you.
Do you think that Jesus wants you to STOP receiving His Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity for this blip in the Papacy?
Oh yeah, there is always PRAYER. You can whine/bellyache to God. It will do MUCH more good than whining/bellyaching here on the Free Republic. GOD is the One to whom you will eventually have to explain yourself.
God DOES listen to His children but YOU have to ASK Him.
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