Chinese authorities bulldozed a registered
church building July 17 without warning
to make way for construction of a new
neighborhood and train station.
International Christian Concern (ICC)
reported that more than 70 police officers
and workers showed up to take down the
Liangwang Catholic Church building in
China’s Shandong province. They lacked
the proper documentation, but it didn’t
matter.
Church officials Gao Rongli, Zhang Siling
and Li Xiangmei – who were inside the
building -- had their phones confiscated
and destroyed. It took only 15 minutes to
demolish the building using bulldozers
and pickaxes, according to ICC. Officials
spared nothing, destroying the altars,
benches and furnishings.
“The disproportionate manpower used to
demolish this church goes to show that
China is fearful of Christians,” said Gina
Goh, ICC’s regional manager. “The
government knew that the demolition in
the name of urban zoning would be met
with resistance, so it ensured success by
taking extreme measures. Despite their
best efforts to intimidate the Church with
actions like this, the government cannot
destroy the faith and resilience of Chinese
Christians.”
It isn’t uncommon for China to destroy
churches for commercial purposes, ICC
reported. Last year, a Catholic church
near a highway exit in Shaanxi province
was demolished, likely for commercial
purposes.
church building July 17 without warning
to make way for construction of a new
neighborhood and train station.
International Christian Concern (ICC)
reported that more than 70 police officers
and workers showed up to take down the
Liangwang Catholic Church building in
China’s Shandong province. They lacked
the proper documentation, but it didn’t
matter.
Church officials Gao Rongli, Zhang Siling
and Li Xiangmei – who were inside the
building -- had their phones confiscated
and destroyed. It took only 15 minutes to
demolish the building using bulldozers
and pickaxes, according to ICC. Officials
spared nothing, destroying the altars,
benches and furnishings.
“The disproportionate manpower used to
demolish this church goes to show that
China is fearful of Christians,” said Gina
Goh, ICC’s regional manager. “The
government knew that the demolition in
the name of urban zoning would be met
with resistance, so it ensured success by
taking extreme measures. Despite their
best efforts to intimidate the Church with
actions like this, the government cannot
destroy the faith and resilience of Chinese
Christians.”
It isn’t uncommon for China to destroy
churches for commercial purposes, ICC
reported. Last year, a Catholic church
near a highway exit in Shaanxi province
was demolished, likely for commercial
purposes.
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