For the sixth time in eighteen months, on the afternoon of July 4, Bishop Jia Zhiguo was arrested and taken by police to an undisclosed location according to the Catholic news agency, Zenit. Bishop Zhiguo, 71, who has spent 20 years in prison for his faith, has been under constant surveillance since. He is the "non-official" bishop of Zheng Ding; a province with an estimated 1.5 million Catholics.
Following the death of Pope John Paul II, there has been speculation that relations between China and the Vatican may improve. It was rumoured last week that a bishop had been appointed with the approval of both the Vatican and the Chinese government. However, the Chinese government has since denied any approval from the Vatican, insisting that the appointment was theirs alone.
Pray that the situation facing China's Christians will improve and that the government will allow freedom of religious belief. Pray for the many Christians suffering in Chinese prisons.
For more information on the persecution facing Christians in China, click here.
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