Even though the Catholic Church is allowed to be present in China under strict surveillance, the government exceeds itself in propagating its own church services. Details of the China-Vatican agreement have not been released to the public; however, according to sources, the Vatican still maintains the right to appoint bishops in China. The Chinese government pressurizes Catholic bishops to join the state church, creating obstacles for them at every level.

According to the Hudson Institute’s report: “The Chinese government’s persecution of the Chinese Catholic Church is targeted against the hierarchs who resist Chinese Communist Party control over religious matters. For this reason, the CCP has subjected the ten bishops in the report to indefinite detention without due process, disappearances, open-ended security police investigations, banishments from their dioceses, or other impediments to their episcopal ministries, including threats, surveillance, interrogation, and so-called re-education.”

The report highlights the persecution of ten bishops, who have suffered severe harassment over the years. They were especially targeted after opposing the Chinese Patriotic Catholic Association, which requires its members to pledge independence from the Holy See. The government has been trying to cut off the Catholic Church in China from the Vatican since the 1950s. The Chinese Communist Party expelled the Papal delegation and imprisoned Shanghai’s Cardinal Ignatius Kung for 30 years when he refused to renounce Papal authority.

Many of these bishops have faced lengthy imprisonment and torture since. The Chinese Communist Party clamps down on religions other than the state-authorised ones. Groups that practice their faith outside of the strict rules are tormented. Authorities regularly close down unregistered Christian house churches, arrest priests and pastors and threaten everyone who wants to practice their faith. 

Pope Francis repeatedly requested to visit China, which Beijing ignored. Holy See negotiators tried to establish a diplomatic office without any result. 

China has a ruthless approach to its own citizens. The government sterilized women without their consent or forced them to abort their babies. Several Christians and other minority groups were murdered, and their organs were sold on the black market. Christians who have spoken out against the Communist Party have been arrested, imprisoned and often tortured. Human rights lawyers have also been targeted, detained and tormented in custody, including being electrocuted, beaten, forcibly drugged, and deprived of sleep.

Source: https://www.persecution.org