Authorities in China have ordered that children are to be banned from attending religious sermons, churches.
The ban also prohibits children from joining religious groups and other activities across the country.
According to reports, this is in a bid to tighten the Chinese government’s grip on religious activities.
This
control on the country’s churches began several years ago when places
of worship were ordered to remove crosses from their buildings in
Zhejiang province.
Earlier this month, over one hundred churches
in Wenzhou, China’s Zhejiang province reportedly received a notice from
government officials informing them that young people will be banned
from entering churches.
Dailymail reports also that minors are also reportedly banned from participating in religious activities.
Members
of the church were told not to participate in religious activities and
churches were not allowed to organise a youth summer camp.
William Nee, researcher for Amnesty International told MailOnline:
‘China
is in the midst of a religious revival and the current government seems
concerned that religion could be a means through which foreign values
may ‘penetrate’ into China and ultimately affect political stability.’
The Communist Party of China already stipulates that members and CCP officials can not believe in religion.
According
to UCA News, the ban also promises that officials will investigate
government approved churches and underground congregations who operate
outside the tightly controlled Beijing-run Catholic and Protestant
Churches.
In 2014, there was a public outcry in China’s Zhejiang
province after churches were ordered to remove their crosses with some
churches demolished.
Within seven months, three churches were demolished and over 360 crosses including those from Catholic churches were taken down.
Officials used the excuse of the crosses being too large and not according with government guidelines.