China wants to “sinicise” its Catholics

When the Vatican signed a deal with China in 2018 on the appointment of bishops, the pact was denounced by a former leader of the Catholic church in Hong Kong, Cardinal Joseph Zen. He said it would legitimise the Communist Party’s control over Chinese Catholics, and be like “giving the flock into the mouths of the wolves”. The flock has not yet been devoured, but the grip of the government’s jaw has been tightening. The authorities have accelerated a campaign to “sinicise” the church by making its buildings, art and rituals look more Chinese and, crucially, its followers more loyal to the party. Catholics in Hong Kong are in their sights, too.

China’s leader, Xi Jinping, launched the campaign in 2015 with all of the country’s officially recognised faiths in mind (there are four others: Buddhism, Islam, Protestantism and Taoism). The party has been particularly tough on Muslims, claiming that radical ideas from abroad are fomenting religious extremism and separatism among China’s Muslim ethnic groups, especially the Uyghurs. The government has locked up many Uyghurs in “re-education” camps, removed Arab-looking domes and minarets from mosques and banned the use of Arabic script on buildings.