China: Communist Cross Demolition Spreads
By Joseph DeCaro, Worthy News Correspondent
(Worthy News) – The demolition of church crosses by Chinese Communists has spread from Wenzhou to Zhejiang province after five Catholic churches had their crosses forcibly removed last week.
According to UCA News, church crosses in Songmun, Xinhe, Muyu, Dasi of Taizhou and Hangzhou dioceses were demolished in early July. Authorities said the crosses were removed in order to “sinicize” the churches.
Under China’s policy of sinicization, all churches must adapt by using symbols that reflect Chinese culture under the current Communist regime. Apparently crosses that don’t reflect the country’s current Communist culture are being forcibly removed; at least 1,000 churches had their crosses taken down so far, although the number could be much higher.
According to a Catholic source who witnessed the removal of the cross at Xiaoshan church, Chinese authorities gave the church’s priests the following ultimatum: either allow the church cross to be removed, or the entire church building would be demolished.