Chinese Christians give service in church ruins after surprise demolition attack

Chiqui Guyjoco Wednesday, June 15, 2016

Defiant Christians in Wenzhou, Zhejiang gathered for worship service amid the ruins of their church building on May 22 following the demolition of their government-sanctioned church that took members by surprise.

Believers take part in a weekend mass at an underground Catholic church in Tianjin, China, April 1, 2014. | Reuters/Kim Kyung-Hoon

In an unprecedented church demolition, about 100 officers took down Zhuyang Church unannounced on the evening of May 20, disregarding the fact that this was a building authorized to operate by the government. Church members also claim that the head of their church was in the middle of talks with local authorities for the relocation of the building and the fees it would require.

The officials only reasoned that the demolition was brought about because they were "transforming the villages in the city." The communist state's "Three Rectification and One Demolition" beautification campaign was often cited by authorities as they demolished churches. More than 2,000 church crosses taken down in Zhejiang province were deemed too high or in violation of the country's policy on buildings. In March, 50 of the demolished churches were from Wenzhou.

"Before, the government said that religious matters would be handled with care, but now it doesn't care about religions at all," a church member told China Aid.

The church member added, "Even churches with full legal documentation, if they fail to reach an agreement, will be brutally torn down by the government. The brothers and sisters of this church wonder if justice still exists."

The protesting church members held protest banners that conveyed their strong sentiments.

"We are strongly opposed to this brutal, violent forced demolition," China Aid quoted one banner as saying.

"The illegal principles of law enforcement are intolerable," another read.

And another one stated, "The powerful are headstrong."

The church members also reportedly exposed the demolition incident through pictures and texts uploaded on Chinese social media site Sina Weibo, but the website promptly blocked their posts.