HONG KONG (UCAN): A recent and often ignored rule prohibiting minors from entering churches is now being strictly enforced in many dioceses in China’s northern Hebei province, church people and parishioners say.
Village and town leaders have been physically preventing them from entering churches for early morning Mass. Meanwhile, local printers are refusing to print religious leaflets in what some priests say is yet another attempt to weaken the church.
Local government officials raided a church in Renqiu city, part of the Diocese of Xianxian, on November 9 and found children. “(They) immediately ordered the church to ban minors from entering and sent people to guard the church to keep children out,” a parishioner said.
A church in Hexizhai in the Diocese of Zhaoxian, several churches in the Diocese of Shijiazhuang and Qujiazhuang in the Diocese of Zhangjiakou are among other parishes in Hebei where minors are prohibited from entering. Qujiazhuang has the second largest Catholic population in Hebei province.
A priest named Father Wang Zhengui officially announced the ban after a morning Mass in Qujiazhuang Immaculate Conception Church recently, saying that “from now on, only adults can be acolytes, children are not allowed,” according to a report from a source who requested anonymity.
The source said that although the ban on children entering churches had been announced earlier, it had not been seriously enforced.
This time the priest promised to strictly implement it and signing a letter of assurance with the authorities.
Families were also reportedly made to sign letters pledging not to break the rule.
As of November, beginning with the official Church in Hebei, the measures are being rigorously enforced while relevant government departments are carrying out strict inspections.
Father Paul of Xianxian, condemned the move.
“There is no legal requirement to prohibit minors from entering churches. It’s clearly the intention of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) to brainwash children into accepting atheism from an early age,” he said.
“If the CCP requires children to reject religion, inculcates atheism into children and forces children to accept atheism, it’s against their own rules,” the priest added.
One parish chairperson called the ban on children an evil practice.
“Children are the future of the Church. If the CCP doesn’t allow them to enter churches, they will lose themselves and their souls in this materialistic society. The CCP is doing evil and destroying people,” he said.
A priest from Hebei said the Church has to speak up now.
“If the CCP can brainwash children, not only will the root of the Church be destroyed, but also the souls of children will be lost and this society will become infinitely rotten,” he lamented.
Father John, also from Hebei, said some schools are cooperating with the government.
“Some have deliberately switched classes from Fridays to Sundays to prevent them attending Sunday school or services.”
Meanwhile, according to sources, authorities banned religious media from publishing information with photos and content for children in early November, threatening to close them down if they do,.
Peter, a Catholic who has worked in church media for many years, said authorities are looking to kill off the Church by making sure it has nothing to pass on to the younger generation.
Father John also said that he recently wanted a leaflet he had written for evangelising to be printed but was told by a printer that religious leaflets were no longer allowed.
“Advertising the sale of aphrodisiacs and gambling services can be printed, but only religious items are not allowed. What kind of country is this?” he asked.
According to Peter, last year’s crackdown on the Church in Henan was only testing the waters for the current suppression of the Church in Hebei.
“With Hebei having the largest Catholic population in the mainland, if the authorities succeed (in cracking down), it can be said that they will have subdued the Church in China,” he said.
