Rumania's

year of reckoning
FIFTEEN years ago this FIFTEEN years ago this month, the Catholic Church in Rumania was dissolved by Communist government decree. This week Masses are being said in Vienna and Salzburg for the victims of religious persecution in that country All churches and church buildings in Rumania were confiscated in 1948, and severe sanctions were imposed in parishes where people continued to meet secretly for Mass. Bishops, priests and laymen who did not immediately comply with the new regulations were arrested.
Many of them. including the Metropolitan Joann Suciu, Bishop of Bucharest, and Bishop Frentiu, died in captivity.
The last of six Latin Rite bishops in Rumania, Bishop Aaron Marton of Alba Julia. is still practically under house arrest. His food is brought to him daily from a nearby seminary. Visitors must sign a book kept by a police guard in the bishops house.
Of Rumania's six Latin Rite dioceses. five are now ruled by excommunicated vicars.
Christianity in Rumania dates back to Roman times. Under Byzantine influence the Eastern Rite was adopted. But even during the Middle Ages occasional contact with Rome was maintained, At the Council of Florence the Rumanian Metropolitan Damian signed the Decree of Unity, together with other representatives of the Byzantine-Slavonic Church. Reunion with Rome brought a great upsurge in ihe religious life of Rumania.