Seven Underground Chinese Priests Arrested

04 May 2005

^{Bishop Jia Zhiguo}

Seven priests of the Diocese of Zhengding, Hebei were arrested on the evening of April 27 in Wuqiu Village of Jinzhou. According to the Cardinal Kung Foundation, the seven were traveling to a retreat conducted by Bishop Jia Zhiguo, who had been under 24-hour surveillance since March 30 and who had just been released. Those arrested were: Wang Dingshan (50), Li Qiang (31), Liu Wenyuan (35), Zhang Qingcai (45), Li Suchuan (40), Pei Zhenping (43) and Yin Zhengsong (32).

Commenting on these recent arrests, Joseph Kung, president of the Cardinal Kung Foundation, said, "How could the Chinese government on one hand proclaim to Pope Benedict XVI and the world their willingness to improve the relationship between China and the Vatican, and on the other hand keep arresting the Pope's priests? It is quite obvious that the desire expressed by the Chinese government to improve its relationship with the Vatican is less than sincere."

Pray for these and many others presently in prison or house arrest in China because of their faith. Pray for the strength to continue their ministry despite the continued opposition from Chinese authorities.

For more information on the persecution of the Church in China, click here.

China

Current Ministry Projects
The Voice of the Martyrs Canada continues to help distribute Bibles to Christians in the country, making it possible for them to have their own printed version of God's Word. Additionally, VOMC works with various mission partners to facilitate a Biblical understanding of persecution and discipleship, while presenting ways to effectively respond and minister within the context of hostility.

Project Funds: Underground Church, Bible, Relief & Development
Country Information
Population
1,413,142,846 (2023 est.)

Ethnicity (%)
Han Chinese (91.1), ethnic minorities (8.9 - includes Zhang, Hui, Manchu, Uighur, Miao, Yi, Tujia, Tibetan, Mongol, Dong, Buyei, Yao, Bai, Korean, Hani, Li, Kazakh, Dai, and other nationalities) (2021 est.)

Religion (%)
Folk religion (21.9), Buddhist (18.2), Christian (5.1), Muslim (1.8), Hindu (< 0.1), Jewish (< 0.1), other (0.7 - includes Daoist [Taoist]), unaffiliated (52.1) (2021 est.)

Leader
President Xi Jinping (2013)

Government type
Communist party-led state

Legal system
Based on civil law system; influenced by Soviet and continental European civil law systems

Sources: CIA World Factbook
Pray for China
Pray that the Gospel will be proclaimed throughout China without government interference so many more names can be added to the Lamb's "Book of Life." May there also be a spirit of unity demonstrated among the country's growing churches, further strengthening existing believers and spurring them on in their ministry service and evangelistic outreach within the country's numerous communities.