HONG KONG (UCAN): Bishop Julius Jia Zhiguo of Zhengding of the unofficial Church in China’s Hebei province, refused to sign a document banning children below the age of 18 from entering churches and participating in programmes of any sort. The signing of the document was set as a condition for the reopening of churches in the diocese, which have been closed for almost six months because of the Covid-19 coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic.
The move by authorities in Jinzhou city comes as church services have resumed in most parts of China with restrictions.
Paul, who is from Zhengding, said authorities “were asking the whole diocese to sign the document. All parishes are required to sign a pledge that they will not allow minors to enter their churches or officials will not allow them to open churches.”
He said authorities were using the pandemic as a cover to suppress the Church. “This requirement of banning children was not part of the requirement anywhere else in China. The local authorities added it by themselves,” he said.
One source, who requested anonymity, explained that officials said they would allow churches to open if the bishop signed the document. If he refused, they would take over a Church-run orphanage for handicapped children and the bishop’s house, he said.
Bishop Jia said he would not sign the document because “the doors of the Church are open to all,” the source added.
Father Chang, a diocesan priest, said he would insist on churches’ opening without banning children. “If the government closes the churches, they will gather in the homes of the faithful,” he said.
