China
Report: Key unofficial bishop in Vatican-China deal released
By Yonat Shimron — March 28, 2018
VATICAN CITY (AP) — AsiaNews says Mindong Bishop Vincenzo Guo Xijin was taken into police custody to prevent him from celebrating a Holy Week Mass. He was released Tuesday after a night in detention.
The Vatican and China: Making the best of a bad situation
By Thomas Reese — February 20, 2018
(RNS) — The bottom line is that the Chinese government can do whatever it wants to the Catholic Church in China, and no one can do anything about it.
Praying for some snowboard diplomacy
By Richard Mouw — February 6, 2018
(RNS) — I hope Vice President Pence has some private conversations with the high-level North Korean government officials who are accompanying their athletes.
Mercedes in China apologizes for quoting Dalai Lama abroad
By Associated Press — February 6, 2018
(AP) — The Dalai Lama quote — 'Look at situations from all angles, and you will become more open' — appeared Monday on Mercedes’ account on Instagram, one of a number of foreign social media services Beijing tries to prevent China’s public from seeing.
Pope’s briefing system under scrutiny after Chile gaffe
By Nicole Winfield — February 1, 2018
VATICAN CITY (AP) — Some Vatican observers now wonder whether Francis is getting enough of the high-quality briefings befitting a world leader, or whether he is relying more on instinct and his own network of informants who slip him information on the side.
Cardinal critic reveals drama in Vatican’s overture to China
By Nicole Winfield — January 29, 2018
VATICAN CITY (AP) — A retired cardinal reveals the behind-the-scenes drama of the Vatican's efforts to improve relations with China, including its request for a legitimate bishop to retire in favor of an excommunicated one who is recognized by Beijing.
China silences even mildest critics of policies on Uighur Muslims
By Cathy Lynn Grossman — December 27, 2017
(AP) A Han Chinese salesman is imprisoned for social media posts criticizing policies toward Uighurs. Now, his wife and son fled to the U.S. this month, seeking asylum.
Chinese Muslims shackled by police state, high-tech surveillance
By Gerry Shih — December 17, 2017
KORLA, China (AP) — Thousands — possibly tens of thousands — are thought to have been spirited without trial into secretive detention camps for alleged political crimes that range from having extremist thoughts to merely traveling or studying abroad, an AP investigative report found.
Despite law, State Department misses deadline to name religious freedom violators
By Emily McFarlan Miller — November 17, 2017
(RNS) 'Failing to designate CPCs tells the violators of religious freedom around the world that the United States is looking away,' U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom Chairman Daniel Mark said.
Are Chinese Christians persecuted? Not exactly
By Richard Mouw — July 12, 2017
I saw no sign of it last month when I visited Harbin, a city of ten million in the northeastern province of Heilongjian.
China, once officially atheist, now booming with religion
By Kimberly Winston — May 17, 2017
(RNS) A new book by a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist charts a sweeping religious revival that has limits.
US commission: Russia a major violator of religious freedom
By Lauren Markoe — April 26, 2017
WASHINGTON (RNS) A dissenting report criticizes the commission for failing to investigate Israel.
America is abandoning independent Christians in China
By Chloë Starr — April 21, 2017
(RNS) American Christians who voted in a president who fails to do the minimum to secure religious freedom abroad have some serious soul-searching to do before their sisters and brothers around the world.
China says Dalai Lama a ‘deceptive actor’ after brain comments
By Reuters — March 13, 2017
BEIJING (Reuters) - China's Foreign Ministry called the Dalai Lama a "deceptive actor" after the exiled Tibetan spiritual leader said in an interview that Chinese hardliners have parts of their brains missing.
Vatican defends decision to invite China to organ-trafficking summit
By Josephine McKenna — February 8, 2017
(RNS) Critics say that China must be stopped from using organs from executed prisoners.
