Chinese Police Bulldoze Unregistered Catholic Church

China's attempts to require registration of places of worship has led to a confrontation on the island of Pingtang in Fujian province in southeast China. About 10,000 Catholics live on the island. They have refused to register with the government because they do not want to be controlled by the Patriotic Association that is trying to create a Catholic church that is not connected to the Vatican. Asia News yesterday reported that on Sept. 1, about 500 Chinese police brought in bulldozers and destroyed an illegal church building that had been completed less than two months ago at a cost of some $50,000. Police also warned that they plan to destroy another church that is being built in Ao Qian village. (See related prior posting.)