Religion: Christian Contraband

One result of treating religion as the opium of the people is that, like the dope traffic, it goes underground and thrives. A glimpse of this Russian underground was visible last week when Communist authorities announced a double haul netting several makers and pushers of religious objects, whose private manufacture is forbidden.

Haul No. 1 caught two oldsters who used a new Moskvich sedan to make the rounds of Moscow churches. One of them would dress in rags and rattle a tin cup at the church door while the other whipped out of the car's luggage compartment an assortment of crucifixes, icons,...

Want the full story?

Subscribe Now

Subscribe
Subscribe

Learn more about the benefits of being a TIME subscriber

If you are already a subscriber sign up — registration is free!