Chinese Communist Party Replaces Church Crosses With Xi Jinping’s Image

The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) is reportedly removing crosses from churches across China, replacing them with images of President Xi Jinping. According to a study by the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom, this is part of the CCP’s broader campaign to “Sinicize” religion, a process where religious practices are altered to align with state mandates.

In addition to removing Christian symbols, the CCP is reportedly editing religious texts and requiring clergy to deliver sermons that support Communist Party ideology. Catholic churches, in particular, are facing heavy control. To operate legally, they must register with state-controlled organizations, including the Bishops’ Conference of the Catholic Church in China, which is managed by the CCP.

Those who resist the state’s efforts, such as underground Catholics, are reportedly persecuted under China’s anti-cult laws. Defying CCP regulations can result in imprisonment or indefinite detention without due process, according to the report.

The study also revisits the controversial agreement between the Vatican and the Chinese government in 2018, where both parties agreed to cooperate on the selection of bishops. However, the CCP has often bypassed consulting the Vatican in these decisions and has even detained bishops it views as a threat. One such figure, Cardinal Joseph Zen from Hong Kong, was convicted in 2022 for supporting democracy protesters.

This repression is not limited to China, as Christians worldwide are facing challenges. Churches in countries like France and Canada have been vandalized or set on fire, while organizations like the Olympics have openly mocked Christianity, adding to global concerns over religious freedom.