BEIJING (Aug 11, 2008) — As President George W. Bush worshipped with his family in Kuanjie Protestant Church here yesterday, Liu Peiqin was out front on Di'anmen Ave. East with a few hundred other faithful, wishing she could be inside.
''This is pitiful,'' the 60-something Christian woman said. ''I live far away and came here because I wanted to share prayers and worship God with President Bush.''
But on arrival here yesterday, she learned that the special early morning service was by invitation-only.
Liu doesn't actually belong to the Kuanjie congregation.
But she does belong to something called the ''home church'' movement — precisely the type of independent believer for whom President Bush has been calling all week for greater religious freedom in China.
Kuanjie Protestant Church is a state-approved, state-registered church, operating under the watchful eye of a government-controlled association.
By contrast, the ''home church'' movement to which Liu belongs is not approved by the government — and, as a consequence, is frequently persecuted by it.
In a country where the Communist Party seeks to control just about everything — even religious belief — independent religious movements operating outside government control and oversight are sometimes seen as potential threats.
Nevertheless, President Bush used his Sunday worship to continue to press his case for greater religious freedom in China.
He sat with his wife Laura, his daughter Barbara and father George H.W. Bush, in a pew in the upper left nave of the sanctuary and heard a children's choir sing ''Amazing Grace'' in both English and Chinese.
Afterwards he emerged smiling on the steps of the church with a group of Chinese worshipers — one of whom he'd slung his arm around — and announced, ''Laura and I just had the great joy and privilege of worshipping here in Beijing.
''You know it just goes to show that God is universal and God is love, and no state, man or woman should fear the influence of loving religion.''
Later, before lunching with President Hu Jintao and other Chinese leaders, Bush told the media he had enjoyed a moment of ''full spirituality.''
According to Article 36 of the Chinese constitution, ''religious belief'' is not a privilege, but a right.
However the state recognizes just five official religions: Buddhism, Taoism, Islam, Catholicism, and Protestantism.
To practise any other faith in China is illegal.
Still, by anyone's measure, it's an improvement.
After Mao Zedong created what the Chinese call ''the New China,'' in 1949, all religious belief was suppressed.
Even today the Communist Party of China remains officially atheist and its followers are prohibited from holding religious beliefs.
But following Mao's death in 1976 and the eventual ascendance of Deng Xiaoping who initiated the Reform and Opening policy of 1978, religious belief was gradually tolerated and today Christianity is flourishing — although, under strict government supervision.
The government estimates there are 130 million Christians in China today, or 10 per cent of China's 1.3 billion population. In 1949 there were 8 to 9 million.
And last year a surprising survey by two Shanghai sociologists estimated that more than 31 per cent of all Chinese 16 years of age and over hold ''religious beliefs.''
Following yesterday's service, 73-year-old Li Shiyong said he was thrilled that President Bush had come to the church — he and his 13-year-old grand daughter Li Meige got to shake the President's hand.
''It was a blessing from God,'' the former railway baggage handler declared afterwards.
But among the throngs of people on the street waiting for the president's cavalcade to speed off so they could enter and begin their worship, not everyone was a fan.
''The elder Bush — he is a very kind man,'' said Li Qishou, an articulate 87-year-old with a smart straw hat and a walking stick who proclaimed he had been a Christian for ''70 years.''
''I got to shake the elder Bush's hand when he came to the Chongwenmen Christian Church in 2002,'' he recalled. ''I was quite pleased to see the President's father.''
And the President?
''I'm not a fan,'' Li said, agitation growing in his voice.
''He killed the most, according to the newspapers I read,'' he said. ''And whether or not he'll be saved by God is open to question.''