China detains pastor and family for defending house churches targeted for demolition
Authorities in Zhejiang province in China have detained a pastor, his wife and his son last week for reportedly meeting and contacting U.S. Consulate officials.
Wen Xiaowu, a pastor of a church in Wenzhou, had been defending house churches targeted for demolition. The authorities arrested him and his wife for allegedly "gathering a crowd to disturb social order," while his son was charged with "obstructing public service." Since they were arrested, their relatives have not been able to contact them.
Reports later surfaced that Wen had informed U.S. consulate officials in Shanghai and some foreign journalists about the Chinese government's campaign to remove crosses and demolish church buildings in the country.
Nonprofit organization China Aid said Wen's family members believe the accusation against him was just an excuse to have him arrested. For the last three years, Wen had actively participated in legal defense of churches against the government's cross demolition campaign. He and his wife had given legal counsel to more than 100 churches affected by the campaign.
"Family members believe ... the real reason for the arrests is most probably because of their contacts/meetings with US Consulate officials in Shanghai," China Aid said in a report.
Bob Fu, president of China Aid, called Wen and his family's arrest "a direct slap in the face to the U.S. government and the American people." He described Wen as a man of integrity who had provided legal counsel for persecuted churches even if they themselves faced the threat of persecution because of these activities.
"I urge the U.S. government to work with the Chinese authorities for the immediate release of the Wen family and other innocent church leaders who are under arrest," Fu said.
Wenzhou is home to the most number of Christians in China. In Zhejiang, an estimated number of 1,700 churches have had their crosses removed or their buildings demolished in the last two years, according to Christian Today.
