No freedom, no games

Lutheran, The, Jul 2001

China is itching to host the 2008 Olympics. But the federal Commission on International Religious Freedom said the United States should resist this bid for the games unless China ends its religious oppression.

The group's second annual report reviewed problems in North Korea, India, Iran, Indonesia, Nigeria, Pakistan and Russia (www.uscif.gov). But it cited "egregious" violations of religious freedom in Vietnam, Sudan and China.

The report noted increased government control over China's official Protestant and Roman Catholic churches, including interference with the selection and training of clergy and its confiscation of 3,000 religious sites in southeastern China. Uighur Muslims, Tibetan Buddhists and Falun Gong members also continue to suffer oppression.

Religious freedom in China, the commission said, has deteriorated since Congress' fall 2000 decision to grant preferred-nation trade status to China without demanding reform. The report suggested this sent a message that the U.S. government places little value on religious freedom and urged the administration to make it a central part of foreign policy.

For information on religious oppression and advocacy, see Freedom House: www.freedomhouse.org/reli gion. For information on Sudan, see Lutheran Office for Governmental Affairs: www.loga.org/SudanWOA. htm.

Prayer needed too

Please Pray for Us by Johan Companjen (Bethany House, $9.99; 800-328-6109) urges prayer for 52 countries where Christians face the greatest persecution.

The author describes one nation for each week of the year, providing details about its church life, trends, religious restrictions and oppression. Each report ends with specific prayer requests.