Word: underground
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Father Benedictus's parish in Shijiazhuang, the sooty industrial capital of Hebei province, isn't recognized by the Chinese government: he's one of the country's underground priests. And yet he goes about his business with a remarkable lack of stealth. Four days after the death of Pope John Paul II, Father Benedictus removed his 125 cc Honda motorcycle from the courtyard that doubles as his church. In full view of the neighbors?and, he assumes, plainclothes police?some 400 worshippers paraded down a quiet lane to the courtyard bearing candles and a memorial photograph of the deceased pontiff...
...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...