[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 132 (Monday, September 28, 1998)]
[House]
[Page H9090]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             CHINA'S FUNDAMENTAL RIGHT TO RELIGIOUS FREEDOM

  (Mr. PITTS asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. PITTS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to speak on behalf of the 
imprisoned religious believers in China.
  Chinese officials imprisoned Pastor Xu Yongze for setting up a house 
church and for working with overseas organizations. Reports suggest 
that since his arrest on March 16, 1997, authorities have beaten and 
tortured Pasture Xu and prevented his family from seeing him.
  Further, the government rearrested 65-year-old Bishop Su Zhimin for 
sending a letter to Chinese authorities protesting religious freedom 
violations. Bishop Su spent 20 years in prison for the crime of 
respecting the authority of the Vatican and refusing to join China's 
State-sponsored church, the Catholic Patriotic Association.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge the Chinese government to release Pastor Xu and 
Bishop Su, and begin to protect the Chinese people's fundamental right 
to religious liberty.




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