China’s official Catholic bishops’ body supports government measures banning unregistered clergy and unapproved religious sites.
Newsroom (09/02/2026 Gaudium Press ) The state-sanctioned Bishops’ Conference of the Catholic Church in China (BCCCC) has publicly endorsed the government’s ban on unregistered clergy engaging in pastoral work and using unapproved sites for worship, aligning itself closely with the Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) controls over religion.
The statement, posted February 4 on the BCCCC’s official website, cited the government’s Regulations on Religious Affairs and emphasized that religious activities involve the “vital interests” of believers and must align with “national and public interests.” The bishops underscored that freedom of religion, as provided under Chinese law, must be exercised “in accordance with the law.”
“Religious groups must comply with relevant laws and regulations when conducting religious activities,” the Chinese-language statement declared, reiterating Beijing’s firm stance that religion functions within state oversight.
Restrictions Under the Religious Affairs Regulations
The bishops’ statement specifically referred to Article 40 of the Regulations on Religious Affairs, which states that “collective religious activities of religious citizens should generally be held in religious venues… and presided over by religious personnel or other persons who meet the requirements of the religion, and conducted in accordance with the doctrines and rules of the religion.”
According to the BCCCC, these regulations mandate that collective religious activities take place only in “registered venues” and be led by “certified and registered religious personnel.” Such personnel are permitted to conduct pastoral duties provided they hold official recognition from state authorities.
The bishops emphasized that each recognized religious venue must have a management body established through “democratic consultation” and equipped with a sound internal management system. These structures, they said, are necessary for ensuring public safety, covering areas such as fire prevention, epidemic control, and the general protection of believers’ lawful rights during gatherings.
Only clergy who have “obtained religious clergy qualifications” and been formally “authorized” through state registration may preside over official religious activities. Any person or group outside this framework is prohibited from conducting services or pastoral work.
The BCCCC also pointed out that religious organizations may apply for temporary permits to hold events in alternate locations—but only with prior authorization from relevant government offices, such as the religious affairs department.
Tightening Controls Under Xi Jinping
Although China’s constitution guarantees citizens freedom of religious belief, rights organizations repeatedly identify the country as one of the world’s most restrictive environments for faith communities.
All religious groups in China, from Buddhism to Christianity and Islam, must register with state-approved bodies to operate legally. Unregistered or underground clergy, including those belonging to the so-called “underground” Catholic Church loyal to the Vatican, face harassment, surveillance, and periodic detention under the CCP’s tightening religious regulations.
Since Xi Jinping rose to power in 2013, religious supervision has intensified dramatically. The ongoing campaign to “Sinicize” religion—a state policy aimed at reshaping religious practices to reflect socialist and nationalist ideals—has brought increasing pressure to comply.
Human rights monitors and Christian advocacy organizations continue to track worsening conditions for believers. Open Doors, a U.S.-based Christian rights group, currently ranks China 17th among the 50 countries where Christians face the most severe persecution.
The BCCCC statement illustrates the extent to which China’s officially recognized Catholic leadership continues to align its doctrine, institutions, and activities with the government’s overarching framework for controlling religion—one that seeks conformity with the state’s interpretation of law and public order over the independence of faith communities.
- Raju Hasmukh with files from UCA News
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