Paul KeenanPolice driven from Guangtou church
Reports have emerged of a major clash between a Christian community and police in China over the planned demolition of a church cross. The Irish Catholic has reported previously on the drive by authorities in the Zhejiang to demolish or remodel a large number of places of worship since the beginning of 2014.
One Christian church targeted is that of the town of Guangtou, where the community was informed that the structure’s rooftop church was marked for removal. Following that announcement, the community maintained a 24-hour watch on the building to prevent any such move.
On June 11, reports state, police moved in in large numbers to allow the demolition work to go ahead, but were met by some 200 Christians who massed on the building having been alerted to the arrival of the authorities. A human chain was formed together with a ‘last stand’ group on the church roof to hold demolition workers back, and action met with a police assault which resulted in numerous injuries.
Ultimately, police pulled back, unable to penetrate the human cordon, signalling a victory for the community, though the guard on the church is being maintained amid the belief that another attempt will be made to enforce the demolition order.