Cardinal Baltazar Porras, Archbishop Emeritus of Caracas and one of the most prominent voices in the Venezuelan Church Photo: Yuri Cortez

Beijing sets online rules for clergy: no sermons, no rituals, no educational activities

The Department of Religious Affairs has issued a new Internet code of conduct for priests and ministers of other faiths, who “must not engage in online activities as such”. The crackdown on educational initiatives for children has also been extended to the web with a ban on organising online religious training. Fundraisers to support places of worship or activities are out. Only the websites of authorised religious denominations are allowed.