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Christianity in China
Tuesday, April 12, 2005-6:06 PM
Last Sunday Natasha and I visited the Sacred Heart of Jesus Christ Catholic Church on Yide Lu near Jiefang Nan Lu in Guangzhou's Yuexiu District.
Construction on the Sacred Heart of Jesus Christ Church (also known as the "Stone House") began in 1863 and lasted 25 years. It is the largest Catholic church in southern China.
Unfortunately we were not able to go inside. The church, which has been undergoing renovations since July of 2004, is completely surrounded by scaffolding. The initial renovation won't be complete until some time in 2006.
China's rocky history with the Vatican has actually brought about two separate Catholic Churches in China. In 1951 the official Catholic Church in China cut ties with the Vatican.
The state-sanctioned Catholic Church is administered by the China Patriotic Catholic Association. It has around four million members.
It's been estimated that there are as many as twelve million Catholics who practice their religion in China's underground, illegal Catholic church.
The main sticking point today between China and the Vatican is Taiwan. China refuses to consider opening relations with the Vatican before the Vatican cuts ties with Taiwan.
Several historical events are often cited as the reason why China feels so threatened by Christianity. China claims western missionaries plotted the Opium War of 1840 and were subsequently involved in the opium trade which had devastating effects on China.
China has even had homegrown Christian movements. In 1851, Hong Xiuquan kicked off the Taiping rebellion. Claiming to be Jesus's younger brother, Hong Xiquan declared himself Heavenly King of Great Peace. The movement was supressed in 1864.
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