A religious freedom monitoring organization called Bitter Winter has documented efforts by China’s Communist Party to influence religious teachings across the country. According to the watchdog group, Party officials have conducted gatherings with religious leaders throughout China, instructing them that they must teach their followers that “national law takes precedence over religious norms.”
The organization reports that Catholic bishops selected by the Communist Party have accepted this directive and are now actively spreading this message. Under China’s current system, the Party chooses Catholic bishops and then seeks Vatican approval for these appointments.
