“Catholics must stay away from sects and their teachings, categorically refusing to attend their meetings. The baptized must persevere in the faith and adhere to the truths revealed in Sacred Scripture and the Magisterium of the Church,” said Bishop Francis Xavier Jin Yangke of Ningbo in his September 6 pastoral letter, Fides reported. In his letter to Catholics in his diocese, which can be traced back to the Ming Dynasty, Bishop Jin, “with the affection of a pastor,” urged all priests to swiftly warn their communities about the dangers posed by sects that, using apocalyptic rhetoric and elements borrowed from Christian origins, in an attempt to lure followers, even within Catholic parishes. The bishop warned against groups such as the “Church of Almighty God” and “New Heaven and New Earth” and called for vigilance and adherence to Catholic doctrine. He offered reassurance to those “who have already been deceived,” stating that he will “always pray to the Lord for you, so that He may grant you the grace of discernment.” The bishops encouraged those who joined such groups to “recognize the false truths of these teachings, repent, and return immediately to the flock that Christ gathered and founded.” Bishop Jin also warned that the diocese would impose ecclesiastical measures on those who persist in following these erroneous paths.