Msgr. Česlovas Krivaitis, the administrator of the Vilnius archdiocese, submitted his written resignation from his post at the beginning of 1979, and the advisors of the Vilnius archdiocese, the Revs. A. Gutauskas, K. Gajauskas and J. Morkūnas, hastely "elected" as new administrator the pastor of St. Teresa's parish, the Rev. Algis Gutauskas.
On the surface, everything seems normal: One priest resigned because he wanted to do pastoral work in a parish, and another was elected to replace him.
But in fact, the "resignation" and "election" took place at the direction of the KGB's "magic wand." So there naturally arises the -question, why the security police needed a new administrator for the Vilnius archdiocese? The former Vilnius arch-diocesan administrator had lost all authority and had no chance of ever being appointed bishop by the Holy See. And the Soviet government would very much like to have a new bishop at the head of the Vilnius archdiocese, but not exiled Bishop Julijonas Steponavičius. After the election of John Paul II to the papacy, the KGB understood that the Vilnius archdiocese needs a new administrator with the best chance of becoming bishop in the future, and perhaps even cardinal. This candidate was the Rev. Algis Gutauskas, who counts many Polish priests as friends who could recommend him for bishop. Moreover, Father Gutauskas has not compromised himself morally and is sufficiently timid and obedient to the Soviet government. The people of Vilnius could not believe how zealously he removed children from processions because it is forbidden by Soviet law; he just as zealously defended the KGB collaborator seminarian Jakutis (the Chronicle has written extensively on this subject).
Because the priests of the Archdiocese of Vilnius are certain that the new administrator, Father Gutauskas, has long ago fallen into the KGB trap, they fervently trust that Pope John Paul II will never elevate him to the hierarchy of the Catholic Church.
