SECURITY forces in Czechoslovakia have carried out massive raids on Parish houses and homes for retired priests and the religious throughout the country in the past month in what has, been seen as concerted action against the Church.
In Kadan (Bohemia) at the end of October abour 40 policemen searched a hundred Dominican nuns and confiscated 2 duplicators. 19 typewriters and their entire archive. in spite of their protests that they had permission to duplicate religious literature for their own use.
During a search which lasted all night. over 120 policemen with dogs terrorised elderly priests and religious in Moravec (Moravia). While allegedly looking for two Poles hiding in the home, the police confiscated not only religious literature but also taperecorders, radio receivers, slides and money.
On October 29. Fr Radim Hoaanka was arrested after a duplicator was found in his presbytery. Fr Hozanka, who spent many years in concentration camps in the 50s. refused to answer any questions during the interrogation. Searches continued in a number of parishes such as Steti, Becov and others throughout Bohemia.
A report from Czechoslovakia received by Keston College mentions an increase in the use of "extra-legal" methods by authorities in their drive against the secret Church. On October 10, a nephew of Fr Tomas Spidlik S.J., a professor at the Gregorian University in Rome. who is also a renowned Czech writer and Vatican Radio broadcaster, was found dead at the bottom of the Macocha Gorge (Moravia).
The parents of Mr Spidlik were not allowed to open the coffin nar were they asked to identify their son.