The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has reportedly been removing crosses from churches and replacing them with portraits of President Xi Jinping. This is part of a larger campaign called the “Sinicization of religion,” where religious practices are being reshaped to align with Chinese state ideology, according to a report by the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom.
In addition to altering church symbols, the CCP is reportedly rewriting religious texts and directing clergy to incorporate Communist messages into their teachings. Catholic churches face significant pressure, as they are required to register with state-controlled organizations like the Bishops’ Conference of the Catholic Church in China, which is overseen by the CCP.
Underground Catholics who resist these measures are subjected to harsh treatment, including imprisonment and detention without trial, under China’s anti-cult laws. The report also noted that those who worship through state-sanctioned channels face strict controls, as the CCP monitors religious activities closely.
The report revisits the 2018 agreement between the Vatican and China regarding the selection of bishops. While both sides agreed to cooperate, the CCP has often ignored the Vatican in these decisions. The CCP has detained bishops it views as threats, such as Cardinal Joseph Zen from Hong Kong, who was convicted in 2022 for supporting pro-democracy protesters in 2019.
Christians in the West are also facing challenges, with churches in places like France and Canada being vandalized or set on fire. Additionally, Christianity has been openly mocked by organizations like the Olympics, raising concerns about the state of religious freedoms across the globe.