{"id":1257,"date":"2020-04-21T12:42:26","date_gmt":"2020-04-21T16:42:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/christnewstoday\/?p=1257"},"modified":"2020-04-21T12:42:26","modified_gmt":"2020-04-21T16:42:26","slug":"coronavirus-pandemic-does-not-stop-chinese-government-from-removing-crosses-demolishing-churches","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/christnewstoday\/2020\/04\/coronavirus-pandemic-does-not-stop-chinese-government-from-removing-crosses-demolishing-churches.html","title":{"rendered":"Coronavirus Pandemic Does Not Stop Chinese Government From Removing Crosses, Demolishing Churches"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Bitter Winter\/YouTube<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The Chinese government has not ceased its persecution against churches. In fact, China\u2019s anti-cross campaign appears to have gotten worse during the COVID-19 pandemic.<\/p>\n

At least 70 crosses were removed from churches since last spring and even more have been taken down in recent weeks, The Bitter Winter Magazine<\/em> reports.<\/p>\n

A representative of the Zhuangwu town government hired workers to remove a ross from the Three-Self Church in the village of Hexi in February of this year.<\/p>\n

That same representative said he thought the cross would make his superiors uncomfortable and result in his removal from his position as a result of it.<\/p>\n

The church leaders have followed the four requirements of the government\u2019s \u201csinicization\u201d campaign since these requirements were instituted in 2018.<\/p>\n

These rules include \u201critually raise the national flag, often while singing the national anthem; teach beliefs about and promote the Chinese Constitution, laws, and regulations; \u00a0preach and promote the “Core Socialist Values”; and promote “China’s excellent traditional culture,” CBN News<\/em> reports.<\/p>\n

Even after complying with the government\u2019s regulations, the cross was still removed from the building.<\/p>\n

This is not the only church impacted. A church in Guoyang County, Anhui Province and a church in Yixing city, Jiangsu both saw their crosses removed in March, to name a few.<\/p>\n

A Christian with the surname Chen reported that the church in Guoyang County usually has 40 church goers attending the service, but due to the lockdown of COVID-19, local authorities utilized this time to remove from the cross, Persecution.org reports.<\/p>\n

The Chinese government has stopped all religious gatherings as a result of the Coronavirus outbreak.<\/p>\n

“The government does not provide enough help during the epidemic but instead demolishes crosses,” a Chinese Christian \u00a0told Bitter Winter Magazine<\/em>.<\/p>\n

In December of last year, a number of crosses were removed because they were \u201ctoo-eye-catching,\u201d \u201cthey would attract people into churches,\u201d and they were \u201chigher than the national flag.\u201d<\/p>\n

Local authorities also threatened to shut these churches down if they weren\u2019t compliant.<\/p>\n

COVID-19, which quickly spread across China has limited Christians in China from gathering together.<\/p>\n

While most of the churches, underground or state-vetted are able to meet online for now, it is uncertain whether or not these online gatherings will be cracked down once China returns its life to normal, Persecution.org, reports.<\/p>\n