Radio Free Asia reported on August 28 that staff at Shanghai’s Baoxing Funeral Home told an RFA reporter that Christian and Catholic funeral rites were no longer permitted there and that families would be discouraged from arranging such ceremonies. RFA separately contacted Longhua Funeral Home, where staff said a Catholic priest could still lead memorial prayers provided the activity was completed within one hour.
RFA said it found no relevant public notice on the Shanghai Civil Affairs Bureau or Shanghai funeral-service websites. A broader claim of a citywide ban therefore remains unverified.
Why It Matters
Religious freedom includes the ability of families and clergy to conduct peaceful rites surrounding death and mourning. Conflicting rules at public funeral facilities also make transparency itself part of the story.
Free China Editorial / Analysis
The Mainland Chinese Communist Government should not force bereaved families to choose between public funeral services and peaceful religious observance. If Shanghai authorities have adopted restrictions, they should publish the rule, identify its legal basis and allow meaningful review. If no citywide rule exists, public facilities should not invent opaque local prohibitions that discriminate against religious families.
Free China 
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