US President Bush concluded the first day of his two-day visit to China with a stop to a state-sanctioned Protestant church in Beijing. Though Bush made an overt statement on religious liberty, the United States is taking a careful approach to China overall.
"My hope is that the government of China will not fear Christians who gather to worship openly," said Bush at Gangwashi Church. "A healthy society is a society that welcomes all faiths and gives people a chance to express themselves through worship with the Almighty."The Sunday service was closed to all but those the Chinese government invited. The marble and brick church located in an alley is one of 20 state-sanctioned Catholic and Protestant churches in China, reports USA Today. Bush received a standing ovation from the congregation of about 400 when the pastor, the Rev. Du Fengying, announced him.
"The spirit of the Lord is very strong inside your church," Bush said.
Although the service was in Chinese, the structure and content were familiarly Protestant. Bush listened to translations on headphones.
When he entered, Bush wrote in the church's guestbook: "May God bless the Christians of China."
Under his handwritten note, the first lady wrote: "And with love and respect, Laura Bush."
Gangwashi’s pastor gave the president and Laura Bush Chinese-language Bibles in the only government-approved translation. Afterward, members of the choir assembled outside to see him off.
At Least 30 People Detained
