JONAVA
During the 1972-73 school year at Jonava Secondary School No. 1, the homeroom teacher of class 4A, [Mrs.] Šlapkauskiene, frequently scolded and derided her pupil Leonas Rosinas for attending church. Following the teacher's example, the class acted no better than she.
During the 1973-74 school year, the education of Leonas was undertaken by another teacher, [Mrs.] Valeravičiene, another atheist. She ridiculed him in front of the class for going to church with his mother. Upon returning home from school, the boy would frequently complain that he had been pushed around and beaten by the schoolboys.
Oncė Valėravičienė and her husband assailed Leonas' mother for being a backward, uneducated person who believed in some kind of imaginary God. [Mrs.] Rosinienė explained to her in a kindly manner that she was thoroughly convinced of the existence of God. The homeroom teacher then attempted to convince her to at least stop taking Leonas to church.
"I am responsible for the upbringing of my child," she replied, "and if I didn't take him to church, I would be sinning against my own conscience. As long as he is in my care, I will continue to bring him up in the Faith."
"If you do so, the boy will remain an ignoramus to be scorned and pushed around."
The mother began to weep and returned home with a heavy heart.
On October 5, Leonas returned home from school all beaten up. He was pale and complained of a headache. His mother called an ambulance, which took him to the hospital. The doctor called the police and informed them of what was going on at the school. Though the underage brawlers were taken to the children's section of police headquarters, they went unpunished.
Leonas had to stay home from school until October 15 and was unable to participate in physical education classes until December.
JAKUTIŠKIAI
The directress of the cultural center in Jakutiškiai received the Sacrament of Matrimony at the church in Deltuva during the summer of 1973. Immediately after committing this "crime" she was dismissed from her post.
Gimtoji žemė [Native land], the local newspaper of Ukmergė Rayon published the following on January 10, 1974: "[Miss] Laima Atkočiūnaitė (now [Mrs.] Starkie-nė) betrayed the Young Communist League, upon joining which she had promised, among other things, to strive against religious superstition.... Two years ago, [Miss] Vida Pakėnaitė, Commissioner of the USSR Reconstruction Bank in Ukmergė Rayon, betrayed the League in the same shameful fashion...."
By being forced to join the Young Communist League, believers are taught how to become hypocrites. Later there is resentment when they continue to practice their religion.
THE DIOCESE OF PANEVĖŽYS
UTENA
On the night of January 30, 1974, evildoers broke into the church in Utena and stole two chalices, two ciboria, and two reliquaries. The host was pierced and desecrated. The criminals have not been apprehended as yet.
People say that the Museum of Atheism in Leningrad is buying up religious articles. Otherwise, thieves would have nowhere to dispose of those stolen goods.
The Museum of Atheism in Vilnius has also announced that it purchases religious items. Some professors at institutions of higher learning in Lithuania will sign a receipt for a prayer book or religious book which has been turned in.
