China tightens restrictions on Catholic religious practices

Naypyidaw: Catholics in China are facing expanding restrictions that reach beyond church premises and clergy, affecting everyday expressions of their faith, a report has said.

The measures reportedly cover access to religious books, participation in pilgrimages, online rosary broadcasts and funeral ceremonies. According to the report, religious life in China is increasingly governed not only by what happens inside churches but also by rules affecting publications, gatherings, communications and traditional rituals.

The report, published by Myanmar-based outlet Mizzima News, said Catholics were encountering limits in ordinary aspects of spiritual practice. These reportedly included the removal of Bibles from church shops, the cancellation of pilgrimages following instructions to priests, and the disappearance of online prayer broadcasts.

Concerns have also been raised over reports that funeral homes in Shanghai have stopped allowing Catholic funeral rites. If confirmed, the report said, this would mark a significant extension of restrictions from worship and religious education to ceremonies connected with death.

Citing anonymous accounts from Catholics speaking to US-based website The Epoch Times, the report described growing controls over religious publications, church access, organised pilgrimages and online prayer activities.

It acknowledged that not every allegation could be independently verified, but said the reports raised concerns about the space available for Catholic worship in a country where religious organisations function under close state oversight.

Although Catholicism is officially recognised by China’s ruling Communist Party as one of five permitted religions, the report said its practice remains subject to political supervision. Religious institutions must operate within a framework covering registration, clergy appointments, publications and organised activities.

Under President Xi Jinping, the policy of “sinicisation” has placed greater emphasis on aligning religious belief and institutions with the state’s political priorities and cultural framework, the report noted.

It said the restrictions on routine religious activities were part of a broader contest over control and leadership of the Catholic Church in China.

The government recognises the Chinese Catholic Patriotic Association, but Catholic communities operating outside this state-approved structure have reportedly faced mounting pressure.

Referring to an April 2026 report by Human Rights Watch, the report said Chinese authorities had increased surveillance, ideological scrutiny and travel restrictions aimed at Catholics. It also cited allegations of pressure on underground clergy and communities that refuse to operate within the state-controlled church system.

These alleged measures included arbitrary detention, enforced disappearance and house arrest. The report said the developments indicated that state-imposed limits were becoming more intrusive and extending into private and communal religious life.

(Inputs from IANS)