The Chinese Communist Party is working actively and on numerous fronts to destroy Christianity and replace it in the hearts, minds, and souls of the people of China.
For previous ChristianPersecution.com coverage of the persecution of Christians in China, see here.
“China Introduces New Laws Governing Church Finances,” Barnabas Fund, May 17, 2022:
China has announced that new regulations will come into force on June 1, 2022, governing the management of religious organizations’ finances.
The new Measures for the Financial Management of Venues for Religious Activities were jointly drawn up by the State Administration for Religious Affairs (SARA) and the Ministry of Finance.
They feature 55 articles in ten chapters and according to SARA are aimed at “improving the financial management system for religious activities sites,” a term that includes churches alongside monasteries, mosques and other places of worship.
The new regulations cover the management of revenues, local and foreign donations and expenses of religious organizations.
They also permit greater oversight of churches’ finances by religious affairs departments.
Article 4 states, “The internal financial management system of a religious activity site shall be reported to the religious affairs department that handles the registration of the religious activity site.”
Article 43 adds, “Religious affairs departments and finance departments shall guide religious activity sites to establish and improve internal financial management systems, inspect the implementation of the system, urge religious activity sites with problems to make rectifications, and punish violations of laws and regulations in accordance with the law.”
Article 43 also contains the provision that “religious affairs departments, financial departments and relevant government departments may organize financial and asset inspections and audits of religious activity sites.”…