China will stamp out several house churches considered to be “illegal”
International Christian Concern(ICC) reports that the new Chinese campaign against illegal social organisation seeks to shut down organisations that are not registered with relevant authorities but have carried out activities in the name of a social organisation, private non-enterprise unit or foundation. Organisations who continue with their activities despite their revoked registration will also be targeted.
The five Illegal social organisations include those committing fraud and those engaged in economic, cultural or charity activities in the name of implementing national strategies; organisations using the words “China,” “Zhonghua,” or “National” in their names pretending to be subsidiaries of state organs; those who join forces with legal organisations to deceive the government; organising competitions in the name of celebrating the 100th anniversary of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP); planning activities that pretend to promote health, sinology, or mysticism, and those that hold gatherings in the name of religion.
The Ministry of Civil Affairs’ latest campaign has already begun in some provinces, such as Sichuan. According to Radio Free Asia, the Department of Civil Affairs in Sichuan published a list of “Illegal Social Organisations” on the 25th of March which contains several Buddhist and Christian groups, including the heavily persecuted house church Early Rain Covenant Church.
Source: persecution.org
