WASHINGTON, D.C., Oct. 8, 2019—Russell Moore, president of the Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission of the Southern Baptist Convention, commended the new U.S. restrictions placed on Chinese officials and organizations responsible for the horrific religious persecution in the Chinese region of Xinjiang:
“This news from Secretaries Pompeo and Ross today is welcome and sorely needed,” Moore said. “China's reign of terror on religious minorities must be met with a vigorous response from the United States. These new restrictions on the Chinese government officials responsible for the persecution of religious minorities are just and wise. I pray that we will continue to act until the day that the Chinese Communist Party no longer terrorizes religious people from believing and living out their deepest held convictions.”
This effort from the U.S. Departments of State and Commerce is directed at the travel and business activity of those involved in the totalitarian repression of Uighurs and other Muslim minority groups in China.
The ERLC has called for the U.S. government to prioritize the fundamental right of religious freedom in all aspects of its foreign policy dealings with China. At the 2019 Southern Baptist Convention annual meeting, Southern Baptists passed a resolution condemning the Communist Party of China for their “extreme religious persecution and flagrant human rights violations.”
Last month, Russell Moore published an op-ed in the Wall Street Journal about the importance of countering China morally, highlighting the abysmal record of the Communist Party of China on fundamental human rights. Below are a few excerpts.
“Americans have differing views about how to balance a firm response to these threats with a sustained interstate relationship, but we cannot ignore the Chinese Communist Party’s shredding of human rights and religious freedom.
“In contrast with China, the United States was founded on the principle that rights are rooted in nature and nature’s God—not in government fiat. The U.S. should counter China with a resolute commitment to advance not only economic fairness, but also human rights and freedom of conscience.
“We will continue to debate how best to counter China economically and militarily. Yet surely Americans, the heirs of Jefferson, Madison, Truman and Reagan, can agree that we must begin the long and good work of confronting China morally. The persecuted people there do not bear the image of the Chinese Communist Party membership card, nor do they bear the image of a bar code for international commerce. They bear the image of a Creator above the reach of any state, no matter that it pretends to be a god.
“Render unto China that which is China’s, but its people’s souls aren’t part of that deal.”
Moore’s full op-ed can be accessed at this link.
