Chinese Christians have welfare cut over church activities

Officials in central China make moves to stop religious gatherings.

China:  Christians who attend church activities in central China have reportedly had their welfare benefits cut, says a U.S. based rights organization citing mainland sources.

Local officials in Guizhou province announced anti-Christian measures via welfare cuts last month, which China Aid says mirrors a comparable incident that transpired two years prior.

"[Officials verbally] announced on July 2 that Christians could not have welfare or any old-age insurance," said Mou, a house church member according to China Aid.

"Now, the county [government] called on the government in the towns and villages to order believers to sign [a guarantee], stating that if they gathered again, their welfare would be cut off," Mou added.

China Aid says the events in Guizhou are similar to ongoing pressure applied to Christians from the Miao minority ethnic group in Sichuan province. For two years 36 Miao Christians have not received any welfare payments after they were detained for practicing their faith on Sept. 28, 2014.

Source: UCAN