The Soviet government has been greatly disturbed not only by the energetic activity of the clergy but especially of the youth, whom it finds impossible to entice with Communist ideals since their lies and the coercion are obvious to everyone. Although Soviet laws forbid children to serve at mass, to take part in processions, to sing in choirs, or to receive group religious instruction, these laws are being openly ignored throughout Lithuania. Priests are publicly instructing children. In almost every parish children are serving at mass and taking part in processions. Children's church choirs have been formed in many areas.
To keep Lithuanian priests and faithful from becoming too bold, on September 18, 1979, in Astravas, a trial took place because of the religious instruction of children. [Miss] Angelė Ramanauskaitė, a resident of Kaunas, was brought before a Soviet "people's" court and charged with daring "to drag the souls of children into darkness," i.e., to instruct a small group of Byelorussia's Lithuanian children about God. This trial did not intimidate either Ramanauskaitė or its audience. Many were heard to say, "Next year, Angele, ten of us will tome to teach children about God!"
Undoubtedly, the trial in Astravas attained one goal: it tangibly demonstrated the bankruptcy of Marxist ideology. Many became aware that religious believers in Byelorussia were even more oppressed and enslaved than in Lithuania. No one will be able to demonstrate successfully to the participants in the Astravas trial the value of Soviet justice.
