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See No Evil

International religious freedom has been too low a priority.

When President Bush visited Beijing during the Olympic Games, he asked the Chinese government, "Why don't you register the underground churches and give them a chance to flourish?" Bush told Olympics broadcaster Bob Costas that President Hu Jintao politely listened to his request: "I can't read his mind, but I do know that every time I met with him, I pressed the point."

President Bush's instincts are on the money, though his point is just a bit off. Granted, some house churches in China are willing to register (in many cases to avoid arrests and disruption), but they often get turned down. Others don't want to and they shouldn't be required to. As in many other countries, registering as a church in China means state regulation, not a greater chance of flourishing.

Government pressure limits what Three-Self pastors can preach and pray about. Nina Shea, vice chair of the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom, told Christianity Today about a registered church in Beijing whose pastor prayed for victims of political imprisonment. Government officials raided the church and physically removed the pastor from the pulpit. Constant government surveillance of church services cannot help having a chilling effect on church teaching.

So, we should not be pressing for the government to register more churches. This is a half measure designed to keep trade relations normal while appearing to advocate religious freedom. Instead, we should be pressing China to give up the idea of registering churches.

Put another way, President Bush's well-intentioned comment suggests a more widespread problem in America's advocacy, or lack thereof, for religious freedom.

Department of Particular Concern

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Comments

grad student overseas

October 23, 2008  1:44pm

Two points: First, you are correct that the "IRFA created a system intended to keep the State Department informed about religious freedom in every nation." However, you should point out that the ambassador appointed to oversee religious freedom has little real authority with regard to policymaking and isn't even invited to the meetings where those decisions are made. (See Thomas Farr's essay in Foreign Affairs). Second, we cannot overlook the fact that advancing religious freedom and other human rights is typically a liberal/Democratic priority. Republicans have made decisions based mainly on U.S. national economic and military interests.

Chuck

October 23, 2008  1:04pm

Unfortunately, in America foreign policy, economics always trumps human rights.

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