But unverified reports found on Chinese social media show a wave of underground churches have begun to thrive as Christians turn their back on the China Christian Council.
Government officials are said to be ready to crack down on unregistered churches ordering priests to report to the council.
Express.co.uk understands if unregistered churches are not willing to be guided by the council they will be put on record by the secretive regime under new government proposals to deal with unregistered churches.
In a chilling order “if unregistered churches are not willing to be managed by the government or guided by China Christian Council, the government shall guide and transform their thoughts”.
Open Doors UK, a Christian advocacy charity, said: “Jinping reiterated that China shall maintain various religions independent from external influences, avoid being influenced by extreme religious thoughts and assimilate religions with the socialism with Chinese characteristics.”
Authorities in Zhejiang Province have also reportedly banned religious activity in hospital.
Priests have been forbidden from praying for the sick and dying in a Protestant hospital.
In February, Pastor Bao Guohua and his wife, Xing Wenxiang, were sentenced in Zhejiang Province to 14 and 12 years in prison, respectively, for leading a Christian congregation that was opposing a government campaign to remove crosses from the top of churches.
The crackdown comes just weeks after parents were threatened with legal action if they sent their children to a church in the Guizhou province.
Under Chinese law it is illegal for minors to receive a religious education.
The United States has criticised China for its restrictions on religious practices that are deemed a threat to the ruling Communist Party.
In a scathing report, the US said: “Over the past year, the Chinese government has stepped up its persecution of religious groups deemed a threat to the state’s supremacy and maintenance of a ‘socialist society.’ Christian communities have borne a significant brunt of the oppression, with numerous churches bulldozed and crosses torn down.
vulnerable to these accusations.”
The ruling Chinese Communist Party is officially atheist with more than half of China’s 1.4billion population not associated with any religion or belief.
Those following one of China’s five officially recognised religions – Buddhism, Taoism, Islam, Catholicism, and Protestantism – and affiliated with one of the corresponding state-sanctioned “patriotic religious associations” are protected in theory from the government’s crackdown on religion.
Chinese government shuts down underground churches to 'transform thoughts' of Christians
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Asaph Mic
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