Chinese authorities have issued a fresh warning that religious activities are posing a threat to the communist ideology, saying such activities will lead to "disastrous consequences."
"A lapse in ideology is the most serious disease," the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection was quoted as saying recently in the South China Morning Post.
"Some party members do not believe in Marxism-Leninism; their minds are not on their work [and] they busy themselves with religious activities. Some cadres even take the lead in becoming Believers," China's anti-graft watchdog revealed.
If such trend continues, it would "lead to disastrous consequences," the commission warned.
The commission called for the removal of cadres who left the core doctrine of "dialectic materialism" and turned to religion. At the same time, it also called for shoring up the Communist party's ideology.
The commission emphasized the importance of cadres following the "iron rule" of not subscribing to any religious belief, saying some cadres' "thoughts are not on the party."
Meanwhile, in Zhejiang province's Wenzhou district known as "China's Jerusalem" because of its large Christian population, authorities have pursued the removal of hundreds of crosses from church spires, claiming the crosses violated building codes. The campaign to remove the crosses was launched in 2013.
Last May, provincial officials called for the removal of crosses and other religious symbols on top of buildings.
Also last month, Chinese President Xi Jinping warned that religions must be free from foreign influence. He said his government has asked local religious groups to adhere to the state in its attempt to control different religions and their spread, ABC News reported.
"We must manage religious affairs in accordance with the law and adhere to the principle of independence to run religious groups on our own accord," said Xi at a high-level party meeting.
"Active efforts should be made to incorporate religions into socialist society," he said, adding that the party's religious work should be about winning over the population for the party.
The government's religious policy since the 1990s is based on the contention that hostile foreign forces are using religions to permeate into the Chinese society by swaying the public to topple party rule.
Meanwhile, Pope Francis appealed to all Christians last month to "ask Mary to help Catholics in China to be ever more credible witnesses of this merciful love in the midst of their people, and to live spiritually united to the rock of Peter on which the Church is built."