The Roman Catholic Church in Lithuania and Its Soviet Past

Abstract

The chapter argues that specific roles played by the Roman Catholic Church in Soviet Lithuania have affected in large part modes of dealing with its past in postcommunist era. Prevailing public image of harshly persecuted and resistant institution facilitated rather smooth restitution of ecclesiastical property and legal rights. Symbols of Catholic anti-Soviet persistence—such as the samizdat periodical Chronicle of the Lithuanian Catholic Church and severely persecuted clergymen—acquired status of important memory sites. On the other hand, early removal of willing collaborators with Soviet regime among local clergy as well as a conciliatory attitude of post-Communist Church leadership towards former informers of KGB contributed to a rather mild tone of public debate on issues of priest’s collaboration with Soviet authorities.