George Matulaitis Journal

not say anything against them. They firmly promised me not to oppose the Catholic Church. On the contrary, they told me they were in favor of religion. And, to tell the truth, until now I had not heard that the members of Rebirth had ever shown any hostility to Catholicism. They simply warn that if the priests interfere in politics and obstruct their work or attack them, then they will defend themselves and oppose such priests. This will lead to a political conflict. They even asked me to give them a priest to lead them. I did not do so because they are a political organization and really can go astray. Priests should not become involved in such associations. But until now, I have had no cause to condemn that organization. In the final analysis, neither the members of Rebirth, nor the National Democrats are concerned primarily with religion, but with politics. One party favors a federation, while the other is for annexation. Consequently, there is a struggle between the two currents of thought. Be that as it may, I will not interfere. However, I can see that both want to use the Church for their political purposes and would like to have control over the clergy. The “endeks” are hiding behind the name of His Excellency Archbishop Hryniewiecki and others, while the members of Rebirth boast that they are supported by Bishop Bandurski, Father Petrovski, Father Bobnis, and others. I cannot prevent the priests from par- ticipating in political activities, and so I leave them free to choose. But I can- not allow any political party to monopolize the Church or the Faith. I told the Archbishop how I had warned the members of Rebirth. “If you come out in opposition to religion,” I said to them, “I will immediately speak out against you.” Then I went on to reply to the Archbishop: “Now you are demanding that I punish priests who support Rebirth and are in favor of a federation. Meanwhile, the Rebirth representatives have given me a letter asking me to restrain certain priests who are unjustly slandering and attacking their organization from the pulpit. All I see here is a regrettable political conflict in which I do not intend to interfere.” The Archbishop then started to censure Father Petrvoski for taking part in a Rebirth meeting last Sunday and inciting the people against the Polish landowners. He also accused Petrovski of engaging in 293