What is “Chinese Faith”?
President Bush attended church in Beijing on Sunday, worshipping with Chinese Christians and singing “Amazing Grace.” But what happened outside the church says more about the state of religion in China.
Earlier that morning, Hua Huiqi, the pastor of an illegal underground Christian church, was detained by police as he was biking to the service that Mr. Bush was to attend. His whereabouts are still unknown. Mr. Hua’s brother, who was briefly detained, said Mr. Hua only wanted to worship at the church where he was baptized.
China’s constitution allows freedom of religion, but in practice religion is tolerated only insofar as it is controlled by the state. The only legal churches are those run by the State Administration of Religious Affairs. Those who choose to attend “house” churches — roughly half of China’s Christians — face harassment or detention. That reality contrasts with the better face Beijing has put on its religious tolerance at the Olympics, where athletes have been provided with everything they might need to practice their faith.
China’s leaders are afraid of religion because they see it as a political threat. Citizens with faith and a moral compass are harder for the Communist Party to control. Mr. Bush gently rebuked China’s religious restrictions as he left the church. “God is universal, and God is love, and no state, man or woman should fear the influence of loving religion.”
He has been hanging around Pope Benedict lately, and deeply influenced by his univesal pastoral care for people caught up in ideologies.