McCotter Asks U.S. Ambassador to Urge China's Chief Religious Persecutor to Implement Reforms

U. S. Ambassador-at-Large for International Religious Freedom scheduled to meet today with China’s Director for the State Administration for Religious Affairs (SARA)



Washington, D.C. – In a letter to U.S. Ambassador-at-Large for International Religious Freedom, John V. Hanford III, Rep. Thaddeus G. McCotter (R-MI), Chairman of the House Republican Policy Committee, and Rep. Walter B. Jones (R-NC) joined additional House colleagues to express their concerns over the Ambassador’s meeting scheduled today with Ye Xiaowen, communist China’s Director for the State Administrations for Religious Affairs (SARA). The letter urges Ambassador Hanford to insist that communist China implement reforms to end the religious persecution of its citizens, and immediately release its prisoners of conscience.

"As Director of SARA, Ye has implemented, overseen, and assisted authorities in carrying out communist China’s systematic policy for discrimination, harassment, imprisonment, torture, and execution of Chinese citizens practicing their faith outside the Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) dictates," the letter states. "Recently, under Ye’s leadership, communist China has increased its persecution of Chinese religious believers."


For "the best interest of the United States and religious freedom around the world," the letter encourages Ambassador Hanford to insist that SARA and communist China end their practice of:


**requiring all house churches to register with the government;

**prohibiting the public expression and practice of religious beliefs (as established in Article 18 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, to which China is an original party);

**restricting the printing and distribution of the Bible and other religious literature;

**restricting religious education for children under the age of 18 years; and

**designating religious groups as cults and thus causing them to become targets for government-sponsored violence, torture, and execution.

"While these reforms are urgently needed, simple promises from Ye and the communist Chinese Government will likely do little to stop communist China’s state-sponsored discrimination, harassment, imprisonment, torture, and execution of the Chinese people for practicing their religious faith," the letter states. "To hold communist China accountable for their persecution, please request that they allow impartial international or United States’ observers to verify the steps taken or not taken by their government."

Press Release: McCotter to Communist China

“No Good Government Denies God’s Presence”


Congressman denounces China’s ban on Athletes’ Bibles and All Religious Symbols during Olympics

WASHINGTON D.C. - Congressman Thaddeus McCotter (MI), Chairman of the House Republican Policy Committee, today denounced Communist China’s ban on Bibles during the 2008 Olympics. He introduced a Congressional Resolution condemning the Communist government attack on Christianity and all religions.

Speaking today on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives, Congressman McCotter said:

“As the world stumbles toward the communist propaganda extravaganza labeled the Beijing Olympics. Somewhere Chairman Mao is looking up at us and laughing.

“According the Catholic News Agency Bibles and all other religious symbols are among Communist China’s list athlete’s prohibited objects due to security concerns.

“Since the leader of the free world, President Bush has articulated his eagerness to attend the Communist China’s Olympics; I am compelled to ask three questions.

“Mr. President how many bibles will you be taking to Beijing? Will you visit the 5 bishops and 15 priests imprisoned for opposing the Communist regime’s official church? And will you tell China’s Communist tyrants this fundamental truth, No good government denies God’s presences.”

McCotter also calls upon the Communist government to allow the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) or other international human rights organizations unrestricted access to the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games to “ensure the protection of Christians and other religious persons.”

The Catholic News Agency recently reported the Bible among the “prohibited items” banned at the Olympic village citing “security reasons.” Other banned items include video cameras and cups.

There are between 40 million to 100 million Christians currently living in China. An estimated four to 10 million follow the Catholic faith.

In September 2007 Congressman McCotter joined by several colleagues authored a letter to President Bush urging him to reconsider his attendance at the upcoming 2008 Beijing Olympics.

To see the Congressman’s floor speech click here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b3sR6WZVPKs
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