Word: underground
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Dates: during 2000-2009
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...peaceful enjoyment of heaven." This was the first time since Beijing severed relations with the Vatican in 1951 that worshippers in state-approved churches were allowed to commemorate a Pope's death. With China's approximately 10 million Catholics united in mourning the Pontiff, the divide between underground and official congregations was blurred. "Underground churches now often work openly in China, and official churches recognize the spiritual authority of the Pope," says Anthony Lam, senior researcher at the Holy Spirit Study Center in Hong Kong. The outpouring of grief, he says, "has brought the underground and official churches closer...
...Instead, China last month released a new circular, "Regulations on Religious Affairs," which, among other things, reiterates that all churches must be registered with the government. Most underground Catholics?China has about 5 million of them?have resisted. Police last month detained an underground bishop in Wenzhou city. And authorities have stepped up monitoring of underground congregations in the central province of Hebei, according to Catholics there...
...Vatican, all but about 10 of China's 70 official bishops have been recognized by the Pope. Even those who remain unrecognized?usually for past criticism of the Vatican?may still perform legitimate baptisms, hear confessions, and offer other religious services. Nor does the Vatican object when underground bishops come in from the cold and join the official church. "The official church in China is still a church, and its religious practices are valid," a Vatican official told TIME...
...Hebei, Father Benedictus often cooperates with an official church located just down the lane from his courtyard sanctuary. When the church needed help clearing a vacant lot, he dispatched young parishioners to help. But he is most comfortable staying underground?because he wants to report to Rome. "For Catholics," says Bishop Zen, "to be free means to be in contact with the Holy See." China's Catholics hope that the new Pope will be allowed to stay in closer touch with them than his predecessor...
...College students will never stop drinking, no matter how many acronyms are thrown in their way. Until the BPD takes a more pragmatic stance towards underage alcohol consumption, the correlated problems of binge drinking and raucous behavior will only worsen as students who wish to drink are pushed farther underground, out of the reach of the BPD and college health officials...