According to a new report from US-based NGO Freedom House , persecution of Chinese Christians and other faith groups has "intensified" in recent years. Freedom House said the number of prisoners of conscience in China is in the "tens of thousands," with the majority of those being Falun Gong practitioners. More than half of Protestants are unregistered, according to Freedom House. The Vatican refuses to permit bishops ordained without papal approval to take part in liturgical acts and has excommunicated Chinese bishops who do so. Zen said that the situation for Catholics in China has worsened in recent years as the Vatican has sought compromise with Beijing.

Source: CNN February 28, 2017 05:15 UTC