RELIGIOUS "FREEDOM" IN LITHUANIA

    On November 14, 1973, the decision was made by the State Security Committee to organize a great number of searches in order to liquidate the secret publication TheChronicle of the Catholic Church in Lithuania and the underground centers at which prayer books and religious literature are printed and to destroy all literature of a religious nature.

RAGING RAIDS

    Before dawn on November 20, 1973, a group of security police arrived to search the quarters of Father J. Lauriūnas, pastor of the parish in Kabeliai. In command was Capt. Kazanavičius of the State Security Committee Interrogation Department. The security police had brought with them from Druskininkai as witnesses Vytautas Žukauskas and Juozas Šlikas, who actually functioned as security agents during the search. Documents and literature slandering the Soviet form of government were sought in both the residence and the outbuildings. Taken during the search were two typewriters; nine typewriter ribbons; a goodly amount of writing paper; approximately ten typewritten religious books, among them, Niekšybės paslaptis [The mystery of iniquity], Kristus ir krikščioniškoji asmenybė [Christ and the Christian personality], Viešpatie, ateik [Come, O Lord]; some twenty metallic pictures, and a great number of various manuscripts. In one room even the floor was torn up. The secret police searched Father Lauriūnas as well. Since the search, the pastor has already been interrogated twice, and it is uncertain how long this vexation will be continued.

* * *

    Early in the morning on November 20, the Interrogation Department's Senior Lieutenant V. Kontrimas appeared at the rectory in Valkininkai with his assistants and witnesses: [Miss] O. Važgytė, V. Novikov, and Valkininkai Locality Chairwoman M. Markevičienė. The purpose of this search was to obtain any articles and documents relevant to criminal case no. 345. Pastor A. Keina was away, so the security police presented their warrant to the rectory's housekeeper, and until 6 p.m. they carefully searched the dwelling and the outbuildings. Taken during the search was a typewriter, four issues of the Chronicle of the Catholic Church in Lithuania, fifty copies of the prayer bookMelskimės [Let us pray], forty copies of Sveika Marija [Hail Mary] by K. Žitkus, six copies of Tihamėr Toth's Jaunuolio religija [A youth's religion], and some eighty religious books produced either by typewriter or photocopying machine, among them Netikinčiųjų katekizmas [Catechism for nonbelievers], Marijos garbė [The glory of Mary], Milžinas, didvyris, žmogus [Giant, hero, man], Kunigas Dievo ir žmonių tarnyboje [The Priest in the service of God and man], Rekolekcijos apie Kristaus bičiulystę [A retreat on the friendship of Christ], Dievo Avinėlis [Lamb of God], Deimančiukai [Little gems], Žodžiai broliams[Talks to the brethren], Tėve mūsų [Our Father], Sekmadienių ir švenčių pamokslai[Sermons for Sundays and holy days], Katalikų katekizmas [Catholic catechism], O vis dėlto Šv. Raštas teisus [In any case, the Bible is right]. Also taken were a few prewar books: Tautinis auklėjimas [Nurturing nationalism], Jaunos sielos auklėjimas [The nurturing of a young soul]. Three magnetic tapes, religious holy cards, religious albums, a stack of writing paper, various notes and manuscripts, a sheaf of newspaper clippings, various documents, Beprotybės klausimas [The question of insanity], and other items also ended up in the bags of the security police.

    While the security police were resting after the search, Father A. Keina returned. He was not allowed to say mass for the people who had congregated; he was immediately taken to Varėna. His interrogation was continued also on the following day.

    About twenty believers from the parish in Valkininkai who came in search of their pastor filled the security police with dismay.

***

    ... On that memorable morning Father Boleslovas Babrauskas was hurrying to the bus station in Smilgiai (Biržai Rayon). Before he reached his destination, he was stopped by security officials. They said they wished to talk with him. Being unwilling to talk with the security police, the priest demurred. They then forcibly dragged him to the locality office and, presenting a warrant, searched his pockets and briefcase. The priest was taken to the church sacristy, where the pastor lived because the parochial buildings had been confiscated by the government. Some fifteen security agents, together with the two "witnesses" they had brought, scoured even the attic. The pastor was not allowed to invite any witnesses. All religious books in the sacristy were dumped on the floor. Then the "guests" ascended to the second floor of the sacristy—into the pastor's bedroom—and lugging out all his books threw them downstairs. The housekeeper's quarters were also thoroughly searched. They confiscated her Bible, a small prayer book, and other religious literature, even prewar editions. In the pastor's bedroom even the floor was torn up. The church was searched without the presence of a representative of the parochial committee. Even the tabernacles in the church were examined and some sheet music and all the hymnals were taken. The security agents hauled to the sacristy the religious literature that they discovered in the attic of the church. Nor were the outbuildings overlooked. The security police seized the audio tapes and the slides. The searchers' bags swallowed up even the holy cards. Over a thousand religious books were taken. The only items entered in the report of the search were issues of the Chronicle of the Catholic Church in Lithuania, several bags, and books. All the other books, haphazardly crammed into ten bags, ended up in the truck of the security police. After the search, Father B. Babrauskas was interrogated—where had he obtained the religious literature and the Chronicle?

* * *

    On November 20, the Rev. Jonas Buliauskas, a retired priest from Krinčinas, was seized by the security police in Šiauliai, brought back, and searched. In the course of the search, the religious literature found in the priest's possession was confiscated. In the report of the search, the priest entered a protest, since the USSR Constitution guarantees the freedom of religion and the press, and declared that he would not respond during interrogation. To date, Father Buliauskas has not been summoned for interrogation.

* * *

    Early in the morning on November 20, 1973, a group of security police arrived at the home of Augustinas Jaugelis, who lives at 16 Linkuva St., Kaunas, and at 7 a.m. searched the house and the outbuildings. The homeowner himself was also searched. The purpose of the search was to seize articles and documents "falsely" belittling the Soviet state and its social system. Maj. Vaclovas Raudys who was in charge of the searchers, included in his report of the search only nine religious books and six volumes of the prewar magazineAteities spinduliai [Glimmers of the future]. Sets of the magazines Šaltinis [Source],Saleziečių žinios [Salesian news], Žvaigždė [Star], Pranciškonų pasaulis [Franciscan world], Liurdas [Lourdes], Misijos [Missions], Šv. Pranciškaus varpelis [Bell of St. Francis]; a typewriter; several religious books, among them, Visi mes broliai [We are all brothers],Žmonės ir žvėrys [Men and beasts], Mokslininkų pasaulėžiūra [World views of scholars] ; sheaves of newspaper clippings; notebooks; and other items were all listed on separate sheets of paper and were not signed by Major Rudys nor by the witnesses. Jaugelis was given only the report of the search to sign.

    While interrogating him, the security policeman angrily called the believers fanatics.

    "If you were in power, you would twist our heads off," said the interrogator.

    "If we gave you freedom of the press, you would demand that priests teach religion in the schools, and later, that a Christian political party would be established— Through your libelous writings, you are ruining us economically. We need technology and computers, but the American Congress is creating obstacles for us, on account of the libelous propaganda about the so-called persecution of believers."

* * *

    On November 20, 1973, Captain Žilakauskas, an agent of the state security organs, together with other security policemen, began a search at 7:30 a.m. in the home of Virgilijus Jaugelis, who lives at 7 Kalnai St., apartment 4, Kaunas, with the purpose of seizing articles and documents of relevance in court.

    In the course of the search they seized the following books: Dogminė teologija[Dogmatic theology], Evangelija gyvenime [The Gospel in our lives], Įvadas į filosofija[Introduction to philosophy], Stigmatizuotoji Teresė Neumanaitė [The stigmatic Theresa Neumann], Katalikas esu [I am a Catholic], Jaunuolio būdas [The character of a youth],Tikybos pirmamokslis [Primer of the Faith], Moralinė teologija [Moral theology], and others. Unused stencils, notes, writing paper, and other items were also taken.

    During his interrogation, Jaugelis explained that the stencils and other articles found in a travel bag did not belong to him, but to an unknown man who had asked him to keep them for him.

    Immediately after the search, Jaugelis wrote a protest to the Procurator of the LSSR concerning the seized religious books. In his statement Jaugelis argued that if the Soviet government guarantees the freedom of conscience, speech, the press, and other freedoms, then those who seized his religious books are offenders whom the prosecutor should suppress.

* * *

    On November 20, 1973, four agents of the security police showed up early in the morning at the home of Arimantas Reškevičius, a resident of Kaunas, and spent seven hours searching for suspect literature. Seized during the search was a typewriter, many manuscripts, one and one-half sacks of religious literature, and one issue of the Chronicle of the Catholic Church in Lithuania. After the search, Arimantas was questioned for a day and a half at security police headquarters as to where he had obtained the literature found during the search.

* * *

    In the afternoon of November 19, 1973, six security policemen with two witnesses came to the home of [Miss] N. Cicėnaitė and [Mrs.] T. Mačiukienė. Two security men spent the night in their room, and in the morning, all six finished the search. Some poems, notes, Maldynas [Book of prayers], a new edition of the Bible, and a number of religious books were confiscated. Afterward, the interrogations began.

* * *

    Early in the morning on November 20, 1973, five security policemen arrived at the living quarters of Juozas Turauskas in Kaunas and spent three hours searching his apartment. In the course of the search they seized the tricolor flag [of Independent Lithuania], some letters, a song book, five catechisms, three prayer books, and several religious books, among them, Liturgika [The Liturgy] and Jaunuolio kovos [Struggles of a Youth]. After the search Turauskas was interrogated.

* * *

    On November 20, 1973, the security police failed to find [Miss] Monika Gavėnaitė at home; they therefore sealed her apartment (43 Kapsai St., Kaunas) and awaited her return. On November 26 Major Aleinikovas, together with other security policemen searched Gavėnaitė's apartment. A goodly amount of religious literature was taken during the search: Šventųjų Mišių liturgija [Liturgy of the Mass], Mano malda [My prayer], Visa apimanti meilė [All-embracing love], Paprastas mąstymas [Simple meditation], Kristaus gyvenimas [Life of Christ], Jėzus Kristus [Jesus Christ], Kristus—mano gyvenimas [Christ is my life], Atlaidų rinkinys [Collection of Indulgences], etc.

The security police also confiscated letters, brochures, writing paper, etc. The search took some two and one-half hours. After the search Monika Gavėnaitė was interrogated several times. The interrogator promised to question her many more times.

* * *

    Early in the evening of November 19, 1973, Captain Marcinkevičius, the chief interrogator of the State Security Committee, together with other security policemen began looking for articles and documents that would be relevant in court at the home of Petras Pliuira, 50 Basanavičius Ave., apartment 208, Kaunas. Seized during the search was the Chronicle of the Catholic Church in Lithuania no. 1, and its Russian translation; the religious books Krikščioniškoji šeima gyvenime [How a Christian family lives], Meiles ugnis[Fire of love], Šv. Mergelės Marijos gyvenimas [Life of the Blessed Virgin Mary], Atlaidų rinkinys [Collection of Indulgences]; brochures reproduced by photocopying; notebooks; various notations, paper clippings with obvious markings made by a copying machine, etc. With the exception of the text Kaip laikytis tardymo metu [How to behave during interrogation], the confiscated literature was of a religious nature.

    During the search [Miss] Ona Česnulevičiūtė came to Pluira's apartment. Found in her handbag and confiscated was the prayer book Valandėlė su Jėzumi [An hour with Jesus].

    The search took about four hours. Afterward, Petras Pliuira was driven to security police headquarters and detained. He was accused of violating Article 68 of the Criminal Code—that he had disseminated libelous fabrications slandering the Soviet form of government.

* * *

    On November 20, 1973, security police agent Senior Lieutenant Gudas searched the residence of Vladas Lapienis at 5 Dauguvietis St., apartment n, Vilnius. Seized during the search were four bags of religious books reproduced either by photocopying or by typewriter, a typewriter, a large number of holy cards, ten copies of the Chronicle of the Catholic Church in Lithuania, and other items. During the search Father J. Zubrus happened to stop by to visit Lapienis and was also searched. (Seized were Jaunuolio religija [A youth's religion], several notebooks, and a few leaflets of religious nature.) The search lasted four hours. Afterward, Lapienis was interrogated many times and questioned as to where he obtained so much literature and the issues of the Chronicle. Many of the interrogators acted very rudely and threatened him with prison, with eviction from Vilnius, and made other, similar, threats.

* * *

    On November 20, 1973, a search was made at the home of Vilnius resident Zenon Urbon, who lives on Baltarusiai St. The search lasted ten hours. Masters of the prayer book Marija, gelbėk mus! [Mary, save us!], a homemade printing press, several printed pages of the prayer book, and a number of holy cards were seized.

    During his interrogation, Urbon said that he himself had obtained the printing facilities and had produced prayer books because he wanted to help the believers who lacked prayer books.

  ***

    Early in the morning on November 20, 1973, security police began a search at the home of Jonas Stašaitis, a resident of Salininkai (Vilnius Rayon). For seven hours his home and outbuildings were thoroughly searched. The following were confiscated: several religious books, two prayer books, several notebooks, some holy cards, etc. After the search Stašaitis was interrogated at the headquarters of the State Security Committee (40 Lenin Prospect, Vilnius).

    On December 4, Stašaitis failed to return from his interrogation. Two days later his wife received the following notice from the State Security Committee: "In accordance with the LSSR Code of Criminal Procedure, we hereby inform you that Jonas Stašaitis, son of Juozas, was arrested on December 4, 1973, by the State Security Committee, which is attached to the LSSR Council of Ministers, for committing the crimes specified in articles 18 and 162 of the Criminal Code of the LSSR and is being held at Vilnius a/d 17. [Signed] V. Pilelis, Chief Interrogator of the State Security Committee."

* * *

    On December, 1973, a search was made of Father Prokofjevas' apartment in Vilnius. Seized during the search were old addresses, holy cards, etc. In the course of his interrogation he was threatened with prison because he had joined a delegation which had gone to Moscow on Church matters. Father Prokofjevas explained that it is not a crime
to appeal to one's government.

* * *

    Early in the morning on November 20, 1973, three security police officers began a search at the home of [Miss] Stefa Kriaučiūnaitė of Panevėžys. In her room and in the attic they found a great number of religious books. Seven security agents spent the whole day searching the place. In the apartment of Kriaučiūnaitė's tenant, [Miss] Ona Norkutė, the security police found, among other things, several prayer books, eighteen religious books, some pictures, etc. They accused Norkutė of black-marketeering.

    The security police also seized seventeen religious books from [Miss] Liuda Razminaitė. The search ended at 9:30 p.m.

    That same day the security police searched the apartment of [Miss] Nastutė, the janitress of the church in the old-town section. The search took three hours. A number of rosaries were confiscated and even the religious pictures
cut out from Žvaigždė [Star].

* * *

    On November 20, 1973, three security police agents from Panevėžys searched the apartment of [Miss] Julija Mickeliūnaitė, laundress of the church vestments in Ramygala. Among the items taken during the search were a few typewritten religious books, a notebook, and several small brochures.

* * *

    On November 20, 1973, Senior Lieutenant Bankauskas searched the apartment of [Mrs.] Zita Razminienė in Šiauliai (35 Komunarai St., apartment 65). The purpose of the search was to seize articles and documents relevant to criminal case no. 345 for the "dissemination of fabrications belittling the Soviet state." The search lasted eight hours. Taken during the search was a typewriter; some books, among them, Jaunoms širdims[For young hearts], Deimančiukai [Little gems], Moters gyvenimo ruduo [Autumn of a woman's life], Kęstutis [Kęstutis], Katalikų tikybos kursas [A course in the Catholic faith],Mažasis tobulybės kelias [The humble way to Perfection], Jaunuolio religija [A youth's religion], Geroji kančia [Worthy suffering], Dora [Virtue]; separate issues of the magazines Židinys [Center], Pranciškonų pasaulis [Franciscan world], Saleziečių žinios[Salesian news], Misijos [Missions], Sargyba [The guard], Draugija [The society],Žvaigždutė [Little star]; letters; postcards; notebooks; photographs, holy cards; etc. After the search, Razminienė was interrogated many times.

***

    Early in the morning on November 20, 1973, security police agents began to search the home of Juozas Kopūstas, a resident of Semeliškės. The search lasted four hours. They were looking for an underground press. Taken during the search were two prayer books, the booklet Tikiu [I believe], and other religious books.

    Kopūstas was interrogated—where had he obtained the religious literature?

***

    On November 20, 1973, the apartment of Antanas Jasėnas in Vievis was searched. Bookbinding equipment and quite a number of partially bound copies of the prayer bookAukštyn širdis [Lift up your hearts] were found.

***

    On November 20, 1973, early in the morning the security police started searching Dambrauskas and Kačergis, inhabitants of the town of Kapsukas (formerly Marijampolė) who lived on Krantas Street. They were looking for religious literature and a "firearm". The security police dug up the potatoes, rummaged through the wood pile, and even wanted to tear up the floor; however, when Dambrauskas protested, they relented. Items needed to support a case in court were not found.

***

    On November 20, 1973, two security police agents searched the home of [Miss] Klementina Misiūnaitė in Kaunas. The search lasted seven hours. A typewriter and all the religious literature were confiscated.

***

    For six hours, the security police searched the apartment of [Miss] Ona Tamulynaitė in Kaunas. Nothing incriminating was found.

***

    At the home of Juozas Urbonas, a resident of Kaunas, a large quantity of religious literature was found. After the search, he had to undergo a lengthy interrogation.

***

    In Šiauliai, at the home of Stasys Sipkus, the security police confiscated the entire library.

* * *

    At the home of Antanas Ratkevičius of Pasvalys, the search took ten hours. All religious literature was seized.

* * *

    In Viršužiglis Village, at the home of [Mrs.] Regina Strašinskienė, a typewriter and a large amount of paper were confiscated.

***

    The Chronicle of the Catholic Church in Lithuania has been unable to register every search that occurred. Additional information will be presented in the next issue.

    There is no news concerning the arrest and interrogation of Povilas Petronis.

    The searches carried out by the state security organs indicate how much effort is being expended by the Soviet government in order to suppress religious thought and the truth about the present situation of the Catholic Church in Lithuania.