The 80 millionth copy of the Bible authorized by the government goes to print today, but importing religious books without central authorities permission is still illegal. Christian groups say that the demand exceed the supply.

Beijing (AsiaNews / Agencies) - The only company authorized to print Bibles in China is marking a milestone: the release today of copy number "80 million" from their printing presses, announced by the official government press agency. Amity Printing Co. located in the eastern city of Nanjing claims to have printed one million copies a month. Since its founding in 1988, the company has grown to become one of the largest printers of Bibles in the world. "The production of 80 million copies of the Bible can be attributed to the world of Chinese Christians, and even more to the country's reform and its policy of increased openness," says Qiu Zhonghui, president of Amity. About a quarter of the bibles printed in the world today are made in China, noted Xu Xiaohong, secretary general of the Three-Self Patriotic Movement (TSPM) which oversees the Protestant churches.

Protestant churches in China must register with the Council of Christians and TSPM China (CCC) in order to operate legally. Both these bodies are controlled by the government, which put  obedience to state authority on the same level as obedience to the authority of Christ. Many communities gather in private, the so-called "domestic" churches, and refuse to join because they state that "Christ is the head of the church, not the government". Amity, in addition to the Bible in Chinese, produces sacred books in English, French, Spanish and Braille. It has exported more than 26 million Bibles in over 60 countries, about one third of its total production.

Religious freedom groups say there are more than 100 million Protestant believers in China, including those of "private churches". Christians who belong to unofficial churches and those living in rural areas are struggling to get a bible. Moreover, despite the rapid pace of production, many Christians still do not have a copy because of the shortage in supply, or restrictions on distribution.

• China
• religious
• freedom
• protestant
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• bible
• print
• government
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• control