China Tightens Grip: Catholics Face Broad Restrictions on Daily Faith

Catholics in China are facing increasingly stringent restrictions on their religious practices, extending far beyond church premises to impact their daily spiritual lives. Reports indicate that these curbs affect everything from access to prayer books and participation in pilgrimages to rosary broadcasts and even funeral services. The scope of these restrictions is not limited to what happens inside churches; it now encompasses regulations governing religious publications, public gatherings, and traditional rites. For instance, Bibles are being removed from church shops, pilgrimages are cancelled due to new instructions, and online prayer broadcasts suddenly disappear. In a particularly troubling development, there are…