In China, the Communist Party’s high-tech means to control Chinese Christians’ religious observance include facial recognition surveillance and a smartphone app that ranks citizens’ party loyalty. Chinese authorities in the Xinjiang region use high-tech surveillance with facial recognition and an app tracking its user’s location to monitor the Uyghur ethnoreligious minority intensely. Between 800,000 to Read more
The Patriotic Association of Chinese Catholics and the Council of Chinese Bishops has approved the “Five-Year Plan of Development for the Sinicisation of the Catholic Church in China.” The plan aims to develop the Catholic Church altering religious principles and practices to match Chinese communist ideals and eliminate “foreign influence” ensuring governmental control of all Read more
China has banned its citizens from visiting the Vatican. The Vatican is a popular destination with Chinese tourists. The recent resumption of diplomatic talks between the Vatican and China has prompted an increase in the flow of tourists-pilgrims. If he realises they are at the Vatican, Pope Francis greets them personally and poses for selfies Read more
The once-in-a-decade transition of power in China, at the recent congress of the Chinese Communist Party, bodes well for Christians, according to the president of a Hong Kong-based information resource. “There’s a lot going on,” says Brent Fulton. “But … if political reform is able to move ahead, it should bode well for the Church. Read more