China: Restrictions Placed On 'Underground' Priests As Olympics Loom

BEIJING (UCAN) -- "Underground" Church clergy who work near Beijing have faced restrictions on their work in the run-up to the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games.

Near the capital, quite a number of bishops and priests not affiliated with the government-sanctioned "open" Church have been forbidden to administer sacraments or do pastoral work since late July, Church sources say.

The Summer Olympics and the Paralympic Games will take place Aug. 8-24 and Sept. 6-17, respectively.

In Beijing, an underground layperson told UCA News in early August that most underground priests who had been working in the capital have returned to their hometowns until the Olympics end.

He observed that as the date of the event neared, the Beijing government started imposing strict controls on people from other provinces entering the municipality. Officials tightened security checks in residential areas as well as at subway stations and other means public transportation centers.

While underground priests are out of town, he said, they agreed to have their parishioners attend Masses led by open-Church priests in Beijing, since Bishop Joseph Li Shan of Beijing has papal approval.

In Tianjin municipality and Hebei province, which surround Beijing, Church sources told UCA News underground bishops have been put under house arrest and strict surveillance, and are forbidden to contact their priests.

They also said government officials told underground priests in these areas that clergy without permits from the Catholic Patriotic Association (CPA) are forbidden to celebrate Mass or administer any sacraments, including anointing the sick.

Some priests said they were warned not to leave their hometowns, while Catholic villagers said they were warned not to receive underground priests who usually stay at the laypeople's homes. Anyone violating the orders would be fined heavily, they added.

In Wuqiu village of Jinxian county, Hebei, where underground Bishop Julius Jia Zhiguo of Zhengding resides, a small house was built in April in front of the cathedral for public security officers to guard the bishop around-the-clock, Church sources told UCA News in early August. Previously, these officers had rented a residential house nearby to monitor the prelate.

Sources reported four officers now take eight-hour shifts and enter the bishop's residence in the cathedral compound every two hours to check on 73-year-old Bishop Jia, who is on medication. Despite laypeople living outside Wuqiu being warned not to visit the cathedral, the prelate still insists on celebrating Mass there every day, the sources said.

They noted that with the Aug. 15 feast of the Assumption, a key Church festival on the mainland, falling during the Olympic Games, Catholic communities are monitoring the security situation and will decide whether or not to gather to celebrate the feast.

In eastern China, underground priests in Anhui and Shandong provinces face similar restrictions, UCA News learned.

In northeastern China, Bishop Joseph Wei Jingyi of Qiqihar told UCA News on Aug. 5 that government officials recently phoned him and asked if he will be traveling or hold any religious gatherings during the coming days.

"I know they don't want us to organize any activities during the Olympics," the 50-year-old prelate said. He revealed that he told the officials he "won't go anywhere, but will support the Olympics at home, in front of the television." His diocese in Heilongjiang province has not held any special Mass for the Olympics, but Catholics will pray for the success of the event at Sunday Masses, he said.

He added that he learned some underground priests who serve Catholics in Beijing and its surrounding areas have returned home or decided to vacation in northeastern China, where the weather is cooler, to avoid problems and inconveniences. Laypeople will be safe as long as they pray at home and do not join religious gatherings, he added.

In Inner Mongolia, an underground priest told UCA News on Aug. 2 that local priests have canceled catechism classes for young people and pilgrimages this summer to avoid trouble. Priests now spend their time visiting laypeople living in remote villages and playing sports to keep fit and deepen their fraternity, he revealed.

In southeastern China, Church sources told UCA News that local officials have not imposed restrictions or given warnings to the underground communities in Fujian and Zhejiang provinces, but priests there are conscious of not organizing large-scale activities during this sensitive time.