Persecuted Christians in China - will we speak up?

There have been protests against China's treatment of Tibet - BUT what about the persecuted Christians in China?

The Olympic Games are supposed to be a time of peace and harmony. However, this year's Games, in Beijing, are causing a lot of controversy with some people talking about a boycott of the Games.
If you have watched the TV News recently - or read a newspaper - you will have seen the protests in London, Paris and San Francisco. The Olympic torch is currently on a 'relay' around the world. Protestors who are upset about China's military crackdown in Tibet following demonstrations by Buddhist monks and others in Tibet, have protested wherever the Olympic torch has been on 'relay'.

Prime Minister Kevin Rudd was in China following these initial protests (early April 2008) at the conclusion of his 17 day world trip. In a speech in China, he said he had serious concerns about China's treatment of Tibet and their abuse of 'human rights'. Chinese official reacted but the scheduled meetings with leaders went on.

BUT have you heard him, or any of the protestors, say anything about China's persecution of Christians?

We urge you to WRITE to Mr Rudd, asking him to take a stand on this matter. Details BELOW...
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Persecution of Christians in China
A recent report from China Aid Association shows that even more Chinese Christians were persecuted in China during 2007 than the year before.
* They found the number of Christians who "reported being persecuted was 788, up 18.5 per cent from that of the year before, while the number of people arrested and detained rose by 6.6 per cent to 693.
* 415 house church leaders were arrested.
* Pastors and Christians who do not belong to the official state-approved 'Three-Self Patriotic Movement' are NOT allowed to worship openly.
* Some ministers from the official movement also suffer persecution if they do not follow 'guidelines' about what they can can't preach - but most persecution is of the House Churches.
You might remember the book 'Heavenly Man' by Brother Yun, one of the house church leaders.
* The Chinese Government's "Operation Typhoon No 5" led to more than 100 foreign Christians being arrested, interrogated and expelled from China in 2007.
FULL 26 page report on China Aid website.

The latest news report from Voice of the Martyrs, 9 April 2008, said
"Christians throughout China fear tough restrictions on their freedom to worship in the coming year following the launch of a government crackdown ahead of the August 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing. Christians across China are reporting a shortage of Bibles, even in cities where Bibles previously were readily available. There are reports of ongoing house church raids and arrests, and an unprecedented number of foreign Christians have been expelled from China in recent months.
China Aid has a current Update on persecution.

In 2002, German Christians protested about the treatment of Chinese Christians:
* A dozen Christians went on a hunger strike during [then] Chinese President President Jiang Zeeman's visit to Germany in April 2002.
* 800 Evangelicals marched through Berlin on March 22, 2002 in protest against persecution in China." Click here for article.

Christians expressing concern:
Other Christian groups are also expressing their concern. On 14 April, The Rutherford Institute wrote an excellent, forthright commentary on this matter, and called on President George Bush to take a stand.

Will we make our concerns known?
Women and abortion
Then there is the abuse of human rights from China's one-child policy. Female babies are often aborted - and if they are born are often abandoned and put in orphanages because boys are valued more highly. Some women who already have one child and are found to be pregnant have been forced to have an abortion.
Article on forced abortion.
Article on One Child policy and gender ratio.

Where are the LOUD protests in Australia, or from our Australian leaders - both political and religious - about these 'human rights' abuses?

Will WE protest?

PLEASE ACT: WRITE POLITELY!

Write to Kevin Rudd. Ask him to express his concern about the persecution of Christians in China and the treatment of pregnant women by the Chinese government.
Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, Parliament House, Canberra, ACT 2600.
Click here for Web contact form. Or send a letter to to Parliament House, Canberra, ACT 2600.

Also write to the Chinese Embassy to express your concern about the persecution of Christians in China. Address your letter to The Ambassador - Mr ZHANG Junsai.
Click here for contact details.
Address: 15 Coronation Drive, Yarralumla, ACT 2600 Tel: 0061-2-62734780
E-mail: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it