"New bill in China would prohibit foreign missionaries from evangelizing"

"Foreigners will be unable to speak freely about God in China, should a new communist bill be put into law. According to AsiaNews.it, visitors to China would be subject to several significant restrictions regarding their religious activities. A draft of the new law entitled 'Foreign Religious Activities in the People’s Republic of China' was recently released by the State Administration for Religious Affairs (SARA). It forbids missionary work and even religious services conducted by foreigners for Chinese nationals. 'To enhance the sense of ‘independence’ and ‘autonomy’ of Chinese religions, religious activities by foreigners can only involve foreigners, even if they can, sometimes and temporarily, use local ‘temples or churches’, and ask Chinese personnel to perform religious services or sacraments (Articles 17 and 20),' AsiaNews reported. 'Foreigners are also not allowed to set up religious groups, engage in activities, or open schools, proselytise among Chinese citizens, recruit followers, or accept donations from Chinese citizens (Article 21).' The online news magazine also reported that SARA is against any kind of foreign leadership in religions present in China... The proposed legislation contains 40 articles detailing the extent to which foreigners and Chinese may meet, discuss religion, and share religious materials. AsiaNews suggests that the draft treats religious foreigners in China as if they were spies. 'Chapter 4 (Articles 30-36) is impressive because it includes ‘punishments’ under the law and cites laws and regulations governing religious activities and public security and anti-espionage legislation,' the news magazine wrote. 'The proposal seems informed by the view that religious activities by foreigners are part of an ‘espionage’ operation.'"