Archbishop Beran Indicts

Czech Communist Government
SLOVAKS DEFY GUNS TO DEMONSTRATE LOYALTY TO BISHOPS
By a Staff Reporter
MGR. BERAN, ARCHBISHOP OF PRAGUE, HAS ACCUSED THE . CZECH GOVERNMENT OF HOLDING HIM PRISONER AND, IN A LETTER RELEASED TO THE WORLD, HAS CHALLENGED THE LEGALITY OF THEIR ACTIONS OVER A PERIOD OF MONTHS.
The people of Catholic Slovakia on Sunday last made the consecration of two new titular bishops into a great demonstration of support for the Faith.
They came in their thousands to Trnava from towns and villages miles away for the consecration of Mgr. Lazik and M gr. Probozny by Archbishop Matocha, Czechoslovakia's second prelate.
And, defying road blocks, police armed with tornrny-guns and the cancellation by the Government of all bus and train services into the small town, 3,000 filled the Cathedral of St. Nicholas whilst 12,000 gathered outside.
The Papal flag fluttered from every church in the town as ten Czech bishops and more than 100 priests gathered for the consecration in the 600-year-old cathedral.
The only members of the hierarchy not present were Mgr. Reran, Archbishop of Prague, and 82-year-old Mgr. Plebe, Bishop of Hradec Kralove, both of whom are still virtual prisoners in their palaces. The fervour of the crowd standing
outside in the rain rose as the bishops, in their robes of gold and white and carrying their croziers, walked through the square in procession and entered the Cathedral.
LEAFLETS After the ceremony, which the Communists attempted to disrupt by relaying popular music through loudspeakers, the crowd tore up and trod into the mud leaflets which sympathisers of the Government Catholic Action had distributed.
No announcement of the conse cration was made and no invitations were sent to the bishops, a Church spokesman said. " Yet look at the thousands who are here." he added.
During the ceremony no reference
to the Vatican excommunication decree was made. but a Church spokesman said later that these appointments " obviously mean" that the Church in Czechoslovakia is " moving to strengthen its high command for struggles which lie ahead."
Both the new bishops signed the last pastoral letter issued by Archbishop Baran, Mgr. Ambrosius Lank has been serving as apostolic administrator of Trnava, and Mgr. Robert Pohozny has been capitular vicar of Roznava.
Church spokesmen held that by appointing them titular bishops, instead of bishops in residence, it was not required to seek prior Government approval for the appointments.
All reports emphasised the diffi culties which were placed in the way of all who wished to be present, giving a striking picture of life in Czechoslovakia today.
Road blocks were established, where police, armed with tommyguns, turned back everyone who was going in the direction of the town.
TOMMY GUNS Security police, also armed with tommy-guns, patrolled the square outside the Cathedral of St. Nicholas, although no attempt was made to interfere with the ceremony.
Said another report: The troubles
which beset this Church festival occurred on the roads leading to Trrtava, a city of about 30,000 people, some 30 miles north-east of
Bratislava.
In Bratislava pilgrims were told that no trains were stopping at Trnava because of " technical reawho boarded the morning s. " People train hoping to get to Trnava found that it took them to Leopoldov, 17 miles farther north. There were no buses available in Bratislava, for un explained reasons. On other Sundays they operated.
One crowded bus, which came from a small Slovak village, was filled with Slovak women in native costumes. They prayed loudly throughout the ride. The bus was halted three times by security police patrols, armed with rifles, and its destination was asked.
The passengers all said they were going to a nearby town, where " there is a meeting of beekeepers."