Human Rights Watch reports intensifying crackdown on underground Catholics in China

Human Rights Watch reports that China is intensifying its crackdown on underground Catholic communities within the People's Republic of China.

This escalation suggests a tightening of state control over religious practice and a strategic move by the government to align spiritual leadership with national political goals.

According to the report, the Chinese Communist Party is using its influence to push state ideology and increase pressure on those who refuse to join state-sanctioned churches. This shift follows a 2018 ^[1] agreement between the Vatican and Beijing that allowed the Chinese government to appoint bishops.

Researchers including Yalkun Uluyol and reporter Irene Lin highlighted the findings in the report. The organization said the party is utilizing these appointments to further integrate religious structures into the party's ideological framework, a move that often alienates underground communities who maintain a direct link to the Pope without state interference.

Underground Catholic communities have historically operated outside the state-approved Catholic Patriotic Association to preserve their autonomy. The new report indicates that the space for these communities to operate is shrinking as the state increases surveillance and enforcement of its religious policies.

The report emphasizes that the 2018 ^[1] agreement, while intended to bridge the gap between the Holy See and Beijing, has provided the party with a mechanism to legitimize its control over the clergy. This has led to increased vulnerabilities for those who remain in the underground church, as the state seeks to eliminate unauthorized religious gatherings.