HONG KONG (UCAN): At a May 17 meeting of the Bishops’ Conference of the Catholic Church in China (BCCCC) and the Chinese Catholic Patriotic Association (CCPA), a five-year plan was agreed upon requiring Catholic dioceses to state in writing by the end of August how they will reduce foreign influences and adopt a more Chinese ideological and theological identity.
 

SHAN XI (UCAN): Chinese religious affairs officials have recommended that a priest be disqualified for leading a pilgrimage.
 
Observers said it was believed to be the first such case under new religious regulations that came into effect nationwide on February 1.
 
The Bureau of Ethnic and Religious Affairs maintained that the priest acted in contradiction of religious Sinicization that aims to supplant outside influences with Chinese cultural and social norms.
 

HONG KONG (UCAN): A delegation from the Congregation of the Immaculate Heart of Mary (Missionhurst or CICM) wrapped up its June 2 to 8 pilgrimage to China last week. The visit aimed to cement ties with Chinese bishops and dioceses in honour of the 150th death anniversary of the congregation’s Belgian founder, Theofiel Verbist.
 

HONG KONG (UCAN): The Way of the Cross at the well-known Our Lady of Mount Carmel sanctuary, the popular pilgrimage site in China’s Henan province was demolished by authorities at 8.00pm on June 5 in the latest clampdown on religious freedom.
 
Local government officials removed images of Jesus at the site in the village of Tianjiajing in the diocese of Anyang.
 

HONG KONG (UCAN): A circular from the State Administration for Religious Affairs requiring organisers of religious activities at temporary venues to seek guidance from government-recognised Church organisations has raised concerns in China for fear it means greater control will be exercised over unofficial Catholic communities and Protestant house churches.