Crosses on Shangqiu South Church (Cathedral of the Sacred Heart of Jesus) in China have been removed by the district govern-ment. It is the first Catholic Church in Henan province to have crosses removed. Officials later installed new ones but they were much smaller in numbers and size. A source who asked to be unnamed told ucanews.com that street office and district committee officials on March 8 asked the church to remove its crosses. Church staff reported the incident to both the municipal and district religious affairs bureaus. They also disagreed with the crosses’ removal but the street office and the district committee insisted. Officials from both bureaus visited district officials, who refused to listen and removed the crosses on March 9 by using a crane.
The South Church comprises an old small church, a cathedral and a gate tower. A total of 10 crosses were removed — six above the cathedral, one above the door of the cathedral, and three above the old church next to the cathedral. After their removal, a few Catholics went to the cathedral and prayed outside. An old lady was seen crying.
Several incidents have targeted Christianity in Henan recently, including the removal of crosses and the posting of signs prohibiting minors to enter churches, but Father John believes Henan is not a particular target.
