After Bibles seized, U.S. group won't leave Chinese airport
Pastor Dale Morgan
After Bibles seized, U.S. group won't leave Chinese airport*
* Story Highlights
* 300 Bibles found during an X-ray scan of group's luggage
* It's illegal in China to bring printed religious material for more
than personal use
* China: Christians free to worship in government-registered churches
* Group members say they will not leave airport until bibles are
returned
BEIJING, China (CNN) -- Four members of a Christian group from the
United States are refusing to leave an airport in China after
authorities confiscated their 300 Bibles, the group's director said Monday.
Members of a Christian group say they will not leave China until their
Bibles are returned.
The four members of Vision Beyond Borders -- based in Sheridan, Wyoming
-- arrived in the southwestern Chinese city of Kunming on Sunday.
Customs officials discovered the Bibles during an X-ray scan of their
luggage, said Pat Klein, director of the group, which supplies Bibles
and other Christian material to people in China and other countries.
Under Chinese law, it is illegal to bring printed religious material
into the country if it exceeds the amount for personal use. The group
distributes the Bibles through a local shop owner in Kunming, according
to Klein.
Klein said he's been bringing Bibles into China for 21 years and had no
idea he was breaking Chinese law.
The group spent the night at the airport, and Chinese customs officials
told them they had broken the law and repeatedly asked them to leave the
airport, Klein said. He said the customs agents have not been antagonistic.
China says Christians are free to worship in China -- as long as they
worship in a church that registers with the government.
People in China can buy Bibles, but some members of underground or
unregistered churches in China say Bibles are in short supply in some
locations, especially rural areas, according to a 2007 report from the
U.S. State Department.
The Report on International Religious Freedom warned that the
distribution of religious publications in China is closely watched. All
publication in China is controlled by the government, whether religious
or otherwise.
"Customs officials continued to monitor for the 'smuggling' of Bibles
and other religious material into the country," the report said.
"Religious texts published without authorization, including Bibles and
Qurans, may be confiscated."
President Bush criticized China's record on human rights and religious
freedom in a speech he made before going to China for the opening
ceremony of the Summer Olympics.
"I have spoken clearly, candidly and consistently with China's leaders
about our deep concerns over religious freedom and human rights," he
said. "And I have met repeatedly with Chinese dissidents and religious
believers. The United States believes the people of China deserve the
fundamental liberty that is the natural right of all human beings."
Qin Gang, a spokesman for the Chinese Foreign Ministry, brushed aside
Bush's criticism.
"We firmly oppose any statements or deeds which use human rights,
religion and other issues to interfere with the internal affairs of
other countries," he said.
He said China "keeps to the concept of putting people's interest first
and is devoted to maintaining and promoting basic rights and freedom of
its citizens.
"Chinese citizens enjoy freedom of religion in accordance with the law."
While in China, Bush worshipped at a church that operates with
government permission. That drew criticism from Amnesty International
and other advocates of religious freedom, who said that Bush was
endorsing the Chinese government's regulation of churches.
Klein, meanwhile, said his group members won't leave until their Bibles
are returned.
"We're being inconvenienced a little, but it's nothing compared to what
our brothers and sisters in China experience for their faith in Jesus
Christ," Klein said.
They are scheduled to travel to Bangkok, Thailand, on Wednesday.