(ZENIT News / Washington, 10.08.2024).- A newly released report has exposed the increasing efforts of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) to exert sweeping control over religious practices within its borders, with a particular focus on the Catholic Church. According to the findings by the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF), the CCP is intensifying its campaign to align all religions with its political agenda, forcibly eliminating elements it deems incompatible with state ideology.
The report highlights the CCP’s policy of “sinicization”—a process that nominally involves adapting religious practices to Chinese culture. In practice, however, this policy has been used to subordinate religious beliefs to the CCP’s Marxist vision and political interests. The ongoing crackdown impacts a wide range of faiths, from Catholicism to Protestantism, Islam, Buddhism, and traditional Chinese religions.
Rewriting Faith: From Christ to Xi
The report details startling changes imposed on religious communities. Churches are being forced to remove crosses, and in some cases, images of Christ and the Virgin Mary are being replaced by portraits of Chinese President Xi Jinping. Religious texts are being censored, and clergy members pressured to incorporate CCP ideology into their sermons. The party has also mandated the display of its slogans in places of worship, effectively turning sacred spaces into platforms for political propaganda.
Catholic communities, in particular, have been hit hard by these measures. The CCP requires all religious groups to register with state-controlled associations. For Catholics, this means joining the Chinese Patriotic Catholic Association (CPCA), which operates under the tight grip of government agencies such as the State Administration for Religious Affairs and the United Front Work Department.
Those who refuse to comply, including Catholics loyal to the Vatican and so-called “underground” communities, face severe repercussions. According to the USCIRF report, such individuals are often labeled as members of «sects,» leading to harassment, detention, or even disappearance.
The Vatican’s Dilemma
The Vatican’s 2018 agreement with the CCP was initially hailed as a diplomatic breakthrough, providing a mechanism for collaboration between Chinese officials and the Church in appointing bishops. However, the report reveals that this cooperation has been far from smooth. Despite the agreement, the Chinese government has reportedly appointed bishops without Vatican approval, further straining relations between Beijing and the Holy See.
One particularly troubling aspect is the ongoing disappearance of clergy members who remain loyal to the underground Church. Figures like Bishop Peter Shao Zhumin and Bishop Augustine Cui Tai have vanished after refusing to align with the state-controlled CPCA. Others, such as Bishop James Su Zhimin, have been missing for decades, with the government refusing to disclose their whereabouts.
Religious freedom advocates, including USCIRF commissioner Asif Mahmood, argue that the CCP views these underground communities as a direct threat because they do not acknowledge the government’s authority to dictate religious doctrine. “The Chinese government is not interested in protecting religious rights,” Mahmood stated. “Its goal is to ensure absolute loyalty to the Communist Party and its political agenda.”
Religious Persecution Across Faiths
The report makes it clear that the CCP’s grip on religion is not limited to Catholicism. Protestant Christians, Muslims, Buddhists, Taoists, and followers of Chinese folk religions are also targeted. The plight of the Uyghur Muslim population in Xinjiang stands as one of the most egregious examples of religious persecution. Over a million Uyghurs have been detained in so-called “reeducation camps,” where they are forced to renounce their faith, language, and culture in favor of party loyalty. This policy has been internationally condemned, with many experts labeling it as genocide.
Similarly, Tibetan Buddhists have seen their religious leaders persecuted, temples destroyed, and religious texts manipulated. The government has also launched campaigns to alter or demolish Taoist statues and temples, forcing religious leaders to incorporate CCP propaganda into their practices.
A Global Outcry for Religious Freedom
The findings of the USCIRF report have prompted renewed calls for international action. Nina Shea, director of the Hudson Institute’s Center for Religious Freedom, described the CCP’s repression of Catholics as the most severe since the Maoist era. She noted that Catholic bishops are particularly vulnerable, as their role in maintaining the Church’s unity with the Vatican makes them prime targets for the CCP’s efforts to sever ties with the Pope.
Shea also criticized the Vatican-China agreement, pointing out that it fails to address the persecution of clergy who refuse to join the state-sanctioned church for reasons of conscience. “This deal does not account for the oppression these religious leaders face, nor does it offer protection for their freedom to worship as they choose,” she said.
The USCIRF report underscores that the CCP’s efforts to control religious expression are not about faith but about power. By attempting to assimilate religious practices into a state-centric worldview, the party seeks to consolidate its authority and suppress any potential challenge to its rule.
As the world watches, the fate of religious communities in China remains uncertain. However, the growing body of evidence documenting human rights abuses in the name of «sinicization» makes one thing clear: the CCP’s war on religion is far from over, and international pressure will likely intensify as these practices continue.
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