Katalikų Bažnyčia Lietuvoje 1940–1990 metais: tarp pasipriešinimo ir prisitaikymo
The Catholic Church in Lithuania in 1940–1990: between Resistance and Adaptation

Summary/Abstract: In spite of suffered lossies on the eve of the Soviet reoccupation the Catholic Church in Lithuania remained one of the most important actors that hindered sovietisation of the social and cultural life during the first years of the Soviet rule. Just in the beginning of 1950’s the regime was able to cut off all ties connecting the Church with society (publication of religious literature, religious education of youth, involvement of lay people), but in spite of this the Church was representing further in the eyes of many Lithuanians not only religious contents, but also national values. This mantle of superficial respect hided lowering knowledge of the Church teaching and growing indifference towards it. Due to the long lasting oppression and isolation from the outside world the Church retreated into a hard shell, which offered a reliable protection against attacks of the Soviet regime, but hardly fit when facing the challenges of an open society. Nevertheless, even in these unfavourable conditions there managed to survive shots of a new life that led to cherish hopes for the future. Firstly, the new period of Church resistance in 1970’s, which has got the shape of believers rights movement, raised a new generation of conscious lay Catholics. Secondly, the defence of believers rights was not only the fight for religious liberty, but also raised civic as well as national self-consciousness, questioned the norms of the Soviet ethics. Thirdly, the necessity to unit forces against the soviet regime, which was limiting the space of religious and national activities, helped to overcome etnoconfessional seclusion of Lithuanian Catholic community, thus opening the way for the inter-cultural dialogue.

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