Christian History Institute March 19, 1972 • Forbidden Truth; Chronicle documented Cruelty ©2007

rushed beneath the grinding heel of Communism, Lithuania's Catholic Christians determined to make the West aware of their plight. On this date March 19, 1972 they began to secretly publish a journal, The Chronicle of the Catholic Church in Lithuania, documenting the abuses of their rulers against the church.

In June of 1940 the Soviets Communists had occupied Lithuania. On August 3 they passed the first of many laws designed to bring the church to heel. Soon, the Communist government required licensing of all religious organizations. It forbade Christians from creating associations to help one another. Clergy were excluded from committees designed to run the cities. The atheistic dictators stripped parishes and dioceses of legal standing.

Religious leaders suffered grievously. Father Zdebskis received one year in a regular-regime corrective camp for teaching children the faith. When his year ended his jailors denied him release on the grounds he was "incorrigible." Rev. Bubnys served a year for daring to prepare children for their first communion. Father Seskevicius was given one year in a strict-regime prison camp for teaching religion to children. The courts fined Father Orlickas for playing volley ball with youth. Father Lygnurgaris was fined for visiting a seriously ill patient in a hospital. Archbishop Mecislovas Reinys died in prison for his faith.

Other witnesses also suffered. The cruel system sentenced a seventy year old woman to a year in prison for teaching children the Lord's prayer, apostles creed and Ten Commandments. The Communists harassed teacher Briliene with repeated inspections and then deprived her of her job for admitting belief in God in a classroom. Children were terrorized into testifying against religious leaders. Authorities was sent a man to a psychiatric hospital for making a cross.

The Chronicle documented incidents in which church property was confiscated. It told of individuals who persisted in practicing their faith and were forced into undesirable jobs. Faithful priests were demoted. Children refusing to write essays against the church were flunked in school. Petitions to governmental authorities, signed by thousands of bold believers, did not bring redress of this persecution but only silence or "investigations" which upheld the original injustice. Authorities arrested Chronicle staffers, but publication continued because other brave souls immediately took their places.

Lithuanians smuggled these harrowing accounts to the West. Teams at Loyola University translated them into Spanish, French and English. A society formed exclusively for the purpose published them.

Where Christ reigns in hearts, faith threatens godless governments. The world cannot abide any truth which exposes its ways, exalts Christ, or draws off the single-minded allegiance which temporal rulers wish to command.

Bibliography:

1. Chronicle of the Catholic Church in Lithuania, the. Chicago, Illinois: Loyola University Press, 1981 -.
2. Various encyclopedia and internet articles on Lithuania.

Last updated May, 2007.