Catholic Mass Raided in China, Priest and Ten Others Arrested

03 August 2005

Chinese authorities have arrested a Roman Catholic priest, a seminarian and nine parishioners who were celebrating mass in a private home in Pingtan, Fujian Province on July 25. According to the Cardinal Kung Foundation, approximately fifty people had gathered to pray for a parishioner suffering with cancer when officials interrupted the service. Parishioners who attempted to stop the arrests of Father Lin Daixian and the others were beaten and suffered broken bones and teeth as well as brain injuries. The house was also severely damaged.

^{Bishop Jia Zhiguo (L) and Bishop Anthony Dang Mingyan (R)
Background: St. Bridget Catholic Church, GuongZhou, China}

This is the fourth time Father Lin has been arrested since October 2000. He is part of the underground Catholic Church that remains loyal to Rome. This arrest contrasts with the appointment of Anthony Dang Mingyan as an auxiliary bishop of Xian by the Chinese government and approved by the Vatican. Such joint approval has been seen as a step in improved relations between China and the Vatican.

The Persecution and Prayer Alert reported last week on the arrest of Bishop Jia Zhiguo for the seventh time. Later that day it was confirmed that Bishop Jia had been released. Pray for Father Lin, Bishop Jia and others facing arrest and harassment from Chinese officials. Pray that the Chinese government will allow its citizens the freedom to worship and practice their faith.

For more information on the continued persecution of Christians in China, click here. A fascinating DVD set on the turbulent history of the Church in China, "The Cross: Jesus in China," is available through our online catalogue.

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.