China blocks unregistered church service again

Worship in China, governed by the officially atheist Communist Party, is allowed only in state-backed churches, but millions of people belong to unregistered churches that often face official harassment.

Sunday's was the latest banishment of the underground Shouwang church. It was forced to hold services in a park earlier this month after being kicked out of a rented area indoors. Photos and video posted on the church Web site, which was later blocked, showed hundreds of members gathered, holding snow-flecked umbrellas and Bibles.

On Sunday, police blocked church members from meeting again at the park, and hundreds ended up at a performance hall elsewhere in the city.

Haidian district police office referred questions to the Beijing public security bureau, where calls Sunday rang unanswered. Calls to the State Religious Affairs Bureau also went unanswered.

Another underground church in Shanghai has also been forced to relocate, members say.

Obama, who arrives Sunday, will be closely watched during his visit for signs he will speak out on human rights, including religious freedom. Leaders of churches like Shouwang said if Obama doesn't speak up, the Chinese government will crack down even more.

"Sometimes before a major U.S. visit, Chinese authorities show goodwill and release someone. But this time, it's the opposite," said Yang Fenggang, director of the Center on Religion and Chinese Society at Purdue University. "Interesting. I tend to think this is a test case."

Activists and others in China worry the U.S. doesn't want to risk angering China when it needs cooperation on issues such as climate change and the financial crisis.

One Shouwang member said the church service is what is important, not the location.

"Whether we meet indoors or outdoors, I'm happy we can worship," said a man greeting church members at the door who gave only his last name Xiong.

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