China’s communist government has issued a directive asking priests to “preach on patriotism” as a condition for reopening liturgical services, suspended earlier this year because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Ucanews.com reported the Catholic Patriotic Association and the Chinese Catholic educational administration committee of Zhejiang province jointly issued a notice on May 29 on the resumption of liturgical activities.
“Religious places that meet the conditions of epidemic prevention will resume services from June 2,” it said while adding the patriotism requirement.