Reports emerged last week that a long-awaited deal between China and the Holy See is imminent. Whatever the merits or disadvantages of any deal, it could hardly come at a more awkward time. Earlier this month authorities shut down Zion Church, a large house church in Beijing, and further tightened restrictions on sharing religious material online. China is currently engaged in the worst crackdown on Christians in decades.
Zion Church is just the latest community to fall foul of tough regulations on religious practice which came into force in February. The 1,500-strong congregation has worshipped together for many years without difficulty, despite being unregistered and independent of the state-controlled Protestant body known as the Three-Self Patriotic Movement.
