Christian group calls for release of arrested Chinese house church leaders

The China Aid Association (CAA) is calling on authorities in the communist nation to release eight leaders of house churches who were arrested earlier this month.CAA says the detentions occurred in the two northern provinces of Shandong and Shaanxi. In one instance, two house church leaders were arrested while handing out Christian literature in a marketplace.The other six were arrested as they were conducting a house church worship service. Eyewitness reports to CAA say Bibles and other Christian literature were confiscated in the raids.Bob Fu, president of the China Aid Association, says there is no real religious freedom in China."It's basically ... a very micromanaged so-called 'freedom,'" he shares."In this case, if you don't have permission even to have a worship service in your home, you are subject to arrest -- and to distribute Bibles peacefully in the marketplace is regarded as evil, cultic activity."
Communist officials, Fu explains, want total control of the house churches. "The Chinese authorities are trying to force the house church leaders to register, under the government control; otherwise they will be labeled as an evil cult," he says.Fu also points out that Chinese authorities use the arrests to make money. He says some of those arrested have been told they will be sent to "re-education" through labor camp unless they pay the equivalent of $1,500 (U.S.). The CAA president encourages Christians throughout the United States to appeal to Chinese authorities to unconditionally release the eight house church leaders.
http://www.onenewsnow.com/2007/06/christian_group_calls_for_rele.php
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