China: More crosses removed from Zhejiang province

Monday, February 8, 2016

By Joseph DeCaro, Worthy News Correspondent

(Worthy News) - Chinese authorities have again resumed removing crosses from churches in Zhejiang province.

According to ucanews, in addition to the more than 1,500 crosses removed from Protestant and Catholic churches in Zhejiang since the end of 2013, 13 more crosses were forcefully removed last week. To facilitate these removals, the Communist government has tried to stop congregations from even discussing its anti-cross campaign during Mass.

Zhang Kai, a Christian lawyer who was assisting congregations to keep their crosses, but is now incarcerated in Zhejiang province, has reportedly dismissed his lawyer under duress. Although the forced dismissal of defendant's lawyers is illegal in China, it often occurs in cases involving religious minorities.

Kai was detained by authorities in August when he was about to present evidence concerning China's campaign of cross removal.