China Confiscates Bibles From Americans, Arrests Pastor On Way To Church

Religious freedom in China continues to score low marks:

Chinese customs officials confiscated more than 300 Bibles on Sunday from four American Christians who arrived in a southwestern city with plans to distribute them, the group's leader said.

The Bibles were taken from the group's checked luggage after they landed at the airport in the city of Kunming, said Pat Klein, head of Vision Beyond Borders. The group, based in Sheridan, Wyoming, distributes Bibles and Christian teaching materials around the world to "strengthen the persecuted church," according to its Web site.

"I heard that there's freedom of religion in China, so why is there a problem for us to bring Bibles?" Klein said. "We had over 300 copies and customs took all of them from us."

Bibles are printed under the supervision of the Communist government. The officially atheistic country only allows them to be used in government-sanctioned churches and in some big hotels catering to foreigners.

China faces routine criticism for its human rights violations and its repression of religious freedom. Religious practice is heavily regulated by the Communist Party, with worship allowed only in party-controlled churches, temples and mosques, while those gathering outside face harassment, arrest and terms in labor camps or prison.

A Chinese Christian activist was detained Aug. 10, the opening weekend of the Olympics, on his way to a church service attended by President Bush in Beijing. A rights group said later that the activist, Hua Huiqi, a leader of the unofficial Protestant church in Beijing, had escaped from police and was in hiding. Police have denied any involvement in Hua's disappearance.

No police involvement in Hua's disappearance? Just like the singing and the fireworks were real at the opening ceremony for the Olympics, or that the paralyzed dancer had merely broken her leg?

Here is more on Hua Hiang's detention by police and his subsequent escape. Also, read about the Chinese government's control of the printing of Bibles.

Below is a video about previous beatings of Hua Huiqi, including reports his mother is also being held prisoner as leverage against him: