Quick Facts About the Church in China
Bishop Joseph Fan, Martyr for the Faith
- Over 100 Priests
are still in prison in China today. Some are in forced labor camps,
where they quarry rock, clear land, or labor in rice paddies.
- Their only
CRIME is to be devout Christians in a land where Atheism still rules
with an iron fist. The Chinese have spared few in their continuing efforts
to stamp out Christianity.
- A number of
Priests are in their 70's and 80's. Some were ordained before the communists
took over in 1949, although younger Priests have been ordained by underground
Bishops.
- The Chinese
Authorities are known to use hideous tortures on their Priest prisoners.
Some have been punished by being kept in handcuffs 24 hours a day.
- The Chinese
Government has set-up the "Catholic Patriotic Association"
as a puppet church that is not recognized by the Vatican. It's Priests
and Bishops are recognized by the Vatican. It's Priests and Bishops
are appointed by the Government for propoganda purposes only. It is
largely ignored by the Catholic populace. Bishop Louis Jin has been
excommunicated for heading this schismatic
- Protestants
are also persicuted. Thousands of "House Church" members,
mainly Baptists, Presbyterians, and Pentecostals, have been arrested
and sent to labor camps.