Appearing since 1972! Read this and pass it on! If you can, reproduce it!
This issue is dedicated to the late Father Juozapas Zdebskis, zealous apostle of Christ's love, and loyal son of the Nation!
CHRONICLE OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH IN LITHUANIA, NO. 70 
In this issue:
1. Thanks to His Holiness, Pope John Paul II
2. The Catholic Church in Lithuania Loses One More Zealous Priest
3. When and How Will the Blackmail End?
4. Priests Concerned About the Future of the Lithuanian Church
5. Trials, Raids and Interrogations
CHRONICLE OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH IN LITHUANIA No 70
A Translation of the Complete Lithuanian Original LIETUVOS KATALIKŲ BAŽNYČIOS KRONIKA Nr. 70 Documenting the Struggle for Human Rights In Soviet-Occupied Lithuania Today
Translated by: Rev. Casimir Pugevičius Translation Editor: Marian Skabeikis Published by Lithuanian Catholic Religious Aid, Inc. 351 Highland Blvd. Brooklyn, NY 11207
©Lithuanian Catholic Religious Aid, 1986
ISSN 0197-0348
Franciscan Fathers Press 341 Highland Blvd. Brooklyn, NY 11207
COVER:
Father Juozas Zdebskis, Charter Member of the Catholic Committee for the Defense of Believers' Rights in Lithuania, killed in an automobile accident on February 5, 1986. See pp. 2-17.
CHRONICLE OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH IN LITHUANIA No. 70
Introduction
In 1940, when the Soviet Union occupied Lithuania by force, 85.5% of the country's more than 3 million inhabitants were Roman Catholic, 4.5% Protestant, 7.3% Jewish, 2.5% Orthodox and 0.2% of other persuasions.
In the two archdioceses and four dioceses were: 708 churches, 314 chapels, 37 monasteries, 85 convents, three archbishops, nine bishops, 1271 diocesan priests, 580 monks, of whom 168 were priests. Four seminaries had 470 students. There were 950 nuns.
Nuns cared for 35 kindergartens, 10 orphanages, 25 homes for the aged, two hospitals, a youth center, and an institute for the deaf-mute.
On June 15, 1940, the Red Army marched into Lithuania; the independent government was replaced by a puppet regime.
On July 14-15, rigged elections were staged. On July 21, with the Red Army surrounding the assembly house, the new People's Diet "unanimously" declared Lithuania a Soviet Socialist Republic.
On June 25, 1940, the Church was declared separate from the state, and the representative of the Holy See was expelled.
Parish lands were confiscated, clergy salaries and pensions were cut off, and their savings confiscated. Churches were deprived of support. Catholic printing plants were confiscated, and religious books destroyed.
On June 28, 1940, the teaching of religion and recitation of prayers in schools was forbidden. The University's Department of Theology and Philosophy was abolished, and all private schools were nationalized. The seminaries at Vilkaviškis and Telšiai were closed, and the seminary at Kaunas was permitted to operate on a very limited scale. The clergy were spied upon constantly.
On June 15, 1941, 34,260 Lithuanians were packed off in cattle-cars to undisclosed points in the Soviet Union. After World War II, the mass deportations resumed and continued until 1953.
Vincentas Borisevičius, Bishop of Telšiai, was arrested on February 3, 1946, and condemned to death after a secret trial. Before year's end, his auxiliary, Bishop Pranas Ramanauskas, was also arrested and deported to Siberia. Bishop Teofilius Matulionis of Kaišiadorys and Archbishop Mečislovas Reinys of Vilnius were deported to a Siberian labor camp. Archbishop Reinys perished in prison at Vladimir, November 8, 1953.
By 1947, Lithuania was ląft with a single bishop. Kazimieras Paltarokas, of Panevėžys. He died in 1958.
In 1947, the last convents and monasteries were closed, their communities dispersed, and all monastic institutions were outlawed.
After Stalin's death in 1953, there was a slight improvement in the religious situation. Bishops Matulionis and Ramanauskas were allowed to return to Lithuania, but not to minister to their dioceses or to communicate with the clergy or laity.
Bishop Ramanauskas died in 1959, and Archbishop Matulionis in 1963.
In 1955, two new bishops were appointed by Rome and consecrated: Julijonas Steponavičius and Petras Maželis. Steponavičius has never been permitted to administer his diocese.
Bishop Vincentas Sladkevičius, consecrated in 1957, was kept under severe government restrictions until 1982. In 1965, Monsignor Juozas Labukas-Matulaitis was consecrated in Rome to head the Archdiocese of Kaunas and the Diocese of Vilkaviškis. Two new bishops were consecrated in 1969: Bishop Romualdas Krikščiūnas was appointed Apostolic Administrator of the Diocese of Panevėžys, and Bishop Liudvikas Povilonis was appointed auxiliary to Bishop Labukas, and succeeded him after his death in 1979.
In 1982, Bishop Sladkevičius was permitted to return to his diocese as Apostolic Administrator of Kaišiadorys. Father Antanas Vaičius was named bishop and Apostolic Administrator of the Diocese of Telšiai and the Prelature of Klaipėda.
Relaxation of pressure on religious believers soon revealed that the Lithuanian people were still deeply religious. It was decided in the mid-fifties to resume the attack. The principal means of attack would be unlimited moral pressure, since physical terror seemed only to strengthen and unify the faithful.
In 1972, the Chronicle of the Catholic Church in Lithuania. clandestinely published in that country, began to reach the free world at irregular intervals. Primarily intended to keep Catholics in Lithuania informed of the situation of the Church there, these Lithuanian samizdat also serve as a constant appeal to the free workd not to forget the plight of a people struggling against overwhelming odds to defend their religious beliefs and to regain their basic human rights.
Rev. Casimir Pugevičius Translator
INDEX OF PERSONS
(Šilelkytė), Vita 38
Abkaitė, Miss 41 Adomonis, Father Petras 20, 23 Afanov, A. 35 Aliulis, Father Vaclovas 34 Andrikonis, Stasys 40 Andruška, Rimantas 16 Anilionis. Petras 30, 31. 32. 33. 34. 36, 37, 40 Antanaitis, Canon Bronius 20, 23 Antanavičius, Father Juozas 20, 23 Aputytė, Bronė 16 Arlauskas, Father Vincentas 20, 23
Babrauskas, Father Boleslovas 20, 23 Bagdonas, Father Jonas 20, 23 Bagdonas, Father Juozas 20, 23 Balaiša, Father Bronius 20, 23 Balaišis, Father Antanas 20, 23 Balašauskas, Father Vytautas 20, 23 Balčiūnas, Father Jonas 20, 23 Balčiūnas, Father Juozas 20, 23 Balickaitis, Father Jurgis 20, 23 Balsys, Father Kostas 20, 23 Baltuška. Father Petras 20, 23 Baniulis. Father Algis 20, 23 Baniulis. Father Petras 20. 23 Baronas, Father Kazimieras 20, 23 Bernikienė, (Mrs.) 16, 17, 39 Bernotavičius, Father Henrikas 20, 23 Berteška, Father Juozas 36 Bieliauskienė, Jadvyga 29, 42 Borisevičius, Bishop Vincentas i, 18 Bradūnas, Kazys 4 Braukyla, Father Vladas 20, 23 Breivė, Father Adolfas 20, 23 Bubnys, Father Prosperas 7 Budriūnas, Father Petras 20, 23 Buliauskas. Father Jonas 20, 23 Burbaitė, Danutė 14 Butkys, Father Jonas 20, 23 Butvinienė, Mrs. B. 35 Bužlnskienė. Mrs. 37
Čepas, G. 35 Česnavičius 30 Čiškauskas. Father Feliksas 20, 23 Čiučkis, Father Paulius 20, 23
Dabulskis, Juozas 16 Dambrauskas, Liudas 42 Dargužas 41 Dauknys, Father Algirdas 20, 23 Dijokas, Vaclovas 40 Dirvonskienė, Mrs. 41 Dovydaitis, Pranas 18 Dubnikas, Father Juozas 20, 23 Dumbliauskas, Father Petras 34
Emičienė, Mrs. 35
Gajauskas, Balys 42 Galvydis, Father Steponas 20, 23 Garbenčienė, Elvira 32 Garška, Father Juozapas 20, 23 Garuckas, Father Karolis 14 Giedraitis, Blessed Mykolas 18 Giedraitis, Father Juozas 20, 23 Girnius, Father Kazimieras 20, 23 Gobis, Father Antanas 20, 23 Gorbachev, Mikhail 21, 30, 34 Graužinas, Father Albinas 37 Gražulis, Father Antanas 4, 34 Gražulis, Father Jonas 34 Gražys, Father Alfonsas 20, 23 Greičius 41 Grigaitiene, Mrs. 42 Grubliauskas 17 Gružauskas, Father Antanas 20, 23 Gudanavlčius, Father Gustavas 30 Gutauskas, Father Klemensas 20, 23 Gylis, Father Mykolas 20, 23
Iešmantas, Gintautas 26, 28, 42 Ikarnas, Father Gaudentas 20, 23 Inkratas, Father Vincentas 20, 23 Insoda, Father Vytautas 36 Ivanauskas, Aleksas 16 Ivanovskis, Father Tadas 20, 23
Jalinskas, Father Vincas 3 Jančys, Father Alfonas 20, 23 Jankevičius, Father Paulius 20, 23 Janulis, Father Juozas 20, 23 Jasiūnas, Father Vytautas 20, 23 Jatulis, Father Jonas 20, 23 Jaugelis, Father Virgilijus 14 Jucevičiūte. Adelė 25, 26 Juozėnas. Father Paulius 20, 23 Jurevičius, Jonas 41
Jurevičius, Mečislovas 38, 41 Jurgaitis. Father Jonas 20, 23 Juška. Father Antanas 20, 23 Kadžiulis 41 Kadžius. Father Alfonsas 20. 23 Kairys. Father Antanas 20. 23 Kalikauskas, Father L. 31 Kalinina 41 Kamenskas, Alfonsas 16 Kapočius. Father Vytautas 20. 23 Karaiiūnas, Vladas 40 Karosiene, (Mrs.) 16 Kauneckas Father Jonas 16 Kauneckas, Father Jonas 7, 15, 16, 17 Kažukauskas 17 Kazėnas, Father Stasys 20, 23 Kazakavičius 37 Kazakevičius 37 Keršulis, Father Lionginas 20, 23 Kiela. Father Petras 20. 23 Kietis. Father Antanas 20, 23 Kisielius, Father Anicetas 20, 23 Kizas 40 Klezys, Father Paulius 20, 23 Krasauskas, Father Petras 20, 23 Kremenskas. Father Vladas 20. 23 Krikščiukaitis. Father Kastytis 37 Krikščiūnas. Bishop Romualdas ii Krūmas 41 Krumpliauskas. Father Stanislovas 20, 23 Krupavičius, Msgr. Mykolas 36 Kumpikevičius, Aldofas 16 Kuzmickas, Father Petras 20, 23 Kvaksienė, Mrs. 41
Lėlienė, Mrs. 35 Labakojis, Father Jonas 20, 23 Labukas-Matu lai t is, Bishop Juozas ii Lapėnienė, Mrs. 41, 42 Lapienis, Vladas 42 Laugalis, Remigi jus 16, 17 Laurinavičius, Father Bronius 2, 4, 14 Lazauskienė, Genė 33 Lembutienė. (Mrs.) 16 Lembutis 16 Lipniūnas, Father A. 18 Lukšas, Father Juozas 20, 23 Lukšas, Father Leonas 20, 23
Macekla, Juozas 40 Margelienė. Janina 32 Markevičius, Father Petras 20, 23 Marozas. Father Vytautas 20, 23 Masys, Father Aleksandras 20, 23 Mat i josi us, Dainius 42 Matulaitis, Archbishop Jurgis 18 Matulionis, Bishop Teofilius i, ii, 18 Matulionis, Father Jonas Kastytis 19, 23, 42 Mažeika, Father Leonas 2 Maželis, Bishop Petras i i Mečvienė, Mrs. 41 Mickevičius, Father Juozapas 20, 23 Midlauskas, Bronius 32 Mikolonis, Antanas 33 Mikulenas, Father Antanas 20, 23 Miliauskas, Bronius 33 Miškinis, Father Algirdas 20, 23 Miškinis, Father Paulius 20, 23 Mitrikas, Father Antanas 20, 23 Mozūras, Father Kazimieras 20, 23
Nagulevičius, Father Jonas 20, 23 Narušis, Father Algirdas 20, 24 Neniškis, Father Lionginas 20, 24 Neteckas, Vytautas 16, 17 Nusevičius, Vytautas 40 Nykštas, Father Petras 20, 24
Pabrėža. Father J. 18 Paltanavičius, Father Albinas 20, 24 Paltarokas, Bishop Kazimieras ii, 6 Paulai t is, Petras 29 Pečeliūnas, Povilas 42 Pečkauskaitė, (Miss) M. 18 Pesliakas, Father V.K. 31 Petkus, Viktoras 42 Petraitienė, Mrs. 35 Petrauskas, Father Antanas 20, 24 Pipiras, Father Albinas 20, 24 Plioraitis, Father Ignas 31, 32 Pope John Paul II 1,2, 18. 19, 25 Povilonis, Archbishop Liudvikas 31 Povilonis, Bishop Liudvikas ii, 19, 31 Pranevičius, Father Jonas 20, 24 Pranskietis, Father Augustinas 20, 24 Preikšas, Bishop Juozas 3, 12, 30 Pukenis, Father Robertas 20, 24 Puriuškis, Father Isidorius 20, 24 Puzonas, Father Rokas 37, 40
Raižytė, Miss A. 37 Ramanauskas, Bishop Pranas i, ii Rameikis, Father Antanas 20, 24 Raudeiiūnienė, Dr. 39 Reinys, Archbishop Mečislovas i, 18 Rimša, Father Jonas 20, 24 Rinkevičius, Father Edmundas 20, 24 Rudamina, Father A. 18 Ruzas, Jonas 24, 25 Ruzienė, 0. 25
Sabaliauskas, Algis 2, 12 Sabaliauskas, Father Pranciškus 20, 24 Sadzevičius, Leonas 39 Saint Agatha 12 Saint Casimir 2, 20, 22, 30 Saint Florian 39 Saint John Chrysostom 28 Saint Matthew 6 Saint Michael 39 Sakharov 31 Sakutis, Father Stanislovas 39 Šalkauskas, Father Stasys 18 Šapoka, Father Leonas 2 Saprigonas, Father Raimondas 20, 24 Sasnauskas, Jul i us 42 Saukiene, Mrs. M. 25 Semaška, Liudvikas 36 Šeškevičius, Father Antanas 7 Shevelev 15, 17 Šiaučiūnas, Father Ignas 21, 24 Šidlauskai tė, Miss D. 12 Šileikis, Juozas 38 Simonaitis, Father Aurelijus 20, 24 Simsonas, Father Bronius 21, 24 Skardinskas, Father Leonardas 21, 24 Skirelis, Father Jonas 21, 24 Skudas 24 Skuodis, Vytautas 42 Sladkevičius, Bishop Vincentas ii, 3, 12, Šlapelis, Father Bronius 21, 24 Šllauteris, Father Paulius 21, 24 Smečienė, Mrs. J. 35 Stalin i i Stankevičius, Father Vincentas 21, 24 Statkevičius, Father Kazimieras 37 Steponavičius, Bishop Julijonas ii, 19 Stonys, Father Mykolas 21, 24 Stravinskienė, Veronika 32 Strazdas, Father Bronius 21, 24 Strielčiūnas, Father Alfonsas 21, 24 Šukys, Father Gediminas 21, 24 Šumskis, Father Juozapas 21, 24 Sungaila, Father Aloyzas 21, 24 Svarinskas, Father Alfonsas 7, 12, 16, 19, 23, 25, 26, 30. 42 Svidnicki, Father Josef 24 Svirskis, Father Paulius 21, 24
Talačka, Father Albertas 21. 24 Tamkevičlus, Father Sigitas 7, 12. 16, 19, 23, 28, 30, 42 Tamošauskas, Father Leonardas 21, 24 Tamulonis, Father Pranas 21, 24 Tamulionis. Father Stasys 21, 24 Tarulis, Father Petras 21, 24 Tijušas, Father Petras 21, 24 Tvardovski 25 Tvarijonas, Father Vytautas 21, 24
Ulbiene, (Mrs.) 17 Uogintas, Father Jonas 21, 24 Urbonas, Father Benediktas 21, 24 Uždavinys, Father Sigitas 21, 24 Užupis, Father Juozas 3
Vėlavičius, Father Vincas 7 Vaičiūnas, Father Jonas 21, 24 Vaičius, Bishop Antanas ii, 19 Vaidui is 25 Valančiūnas, Father Antanas 21, 24 Valantinas, Father Antanas 21, 24 Valantinavičius, Vytautas 16, 17 Valiukonis. Father Donatas 3 Varnas, Father Juozapas 21, 24 Varžinskas, Father Paulius 21, 24 Vaškevičius, Father Antanas 21, 24 Veilentas, Father Virginijus 21, 24
Zagariete, Barbora 18 Žemaitis. R. 2, 3 Žemaitis, Romas 42 Žilinskas, Father Bronius 21, 24 Žvinys, Father Serafinas 21, 24 Zabavičius, Father Stasys 21, 24 Zakrys, Father Vytautas 21. 24 Zdebskis, Father Juozapas (Juozas) 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. 7, 8, 12, 13. 14. 34 Zdebskytė, Mar i ja 6 Zubrus. Father Jonas 3 Zulonas, Father Antanas 21, 24 Zvingevich, Inga 41
INDEX OF PLACES
Adakavas 16, 17, 39 Afghanistan 16 Alytus 4, 34, 35, 36 Armenia 8 Aukšteklė 41
Balbieriškis 36
Čiobiškis 37
Druskininkai 12
Eišiškės 2, 12 Elektrėnai 20
Gargždai 16 Ginkūnai 41 Gudeliai 6
Helsinki 23 Hill of Crosses 38
Įgula 6
Jonava 31 Josvainiai 31
Kėdainiai 31 Kaišiadorys i i, 19 Kalvarija 6 Kapčiamiestis 6, 31, 32, 33 Kaunas I, ii, 6, 7, 12, 14, 18, 20, 31, 34, 36, 37 Kelmė 36 Kiaukliai 37, 40, 41 Klaipėda ii. 12, 20, 22, 30 Komi 28 Kretinga 29
Lazdijai 3, 31, 33
Marijampolė 6 Meškuičiai 38 Meteliai 34 Mindaugai 6 Mosėdis 39 Moscow 15, 28, 30 Musninkai 39
N. Akmenė 20 Narareth 28 Nemunas 35 Novosibirsk 24
Panemunė 37 Panevėžys ii, 18, 21, 24 Paširvintai 39 Petrašiūnai 37 Podcher'ye 28 Poland 25 Prienai 3, 7 Raseiniai 6, 2$
Rome i i Rudamina 2, 3, 4, 8, 12, 34
Šakiai 6 Šalčininkai 2, 12 Samogitia 39 Šiauliai 12, 30, 38, 41 Siberia i Šileikis, Juozas 38 Šiluva 6, 22, 38 Širvintai 36, 39. 40, 41 Šiūpiliai 6
Skaudvilė 15, 16, 17. 39 Skuodas 39 Šlavantai 7, 8 Sneičkus 20
Tadzhlk 8 Tauragė 15, 16. 17, 39 Telšiai i, M Trakai 35 Transcarpathia 27 Tytuvėnai 36
Udrija 36 Ukhta 28 Ukmergė 12
Valkininkai 2 Varėna 2 Varduva 22 Varna 12 Vatican 30 Viduklė 25 Vilkaviškis i, i i. 31. 34 Vilnius i, 12, 19, 20, 22, 25, 30, 34 Vladimir i Volga 8 Vorkuta 28 Vuktil 28
Žagarė 30 Žalva 42 Žemaičių Kalvarija 22
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