George Matulaitis Journal

June of last year he again went to Poland and remained there until recently. He has been constantly ill with heart trouble. Among the Lithuanians he has been denounced as a fervent “endek,” who, while sitting in the chancery office, was actually engaged in party politics. I have always been aware that I have enemies in the chancery, that they relay information from the chancery to their own people and hinder my work. I used to keep hearing complaints that certain documents against some of the priests had never reached me. These documents disappeared somewhere. Several times I asked Father Steckiewicz to publish my directives in the Dziennik Wile < ski and other newspapers, but he did not do so. I felt that he and some of the “endek” priests have been working against me; however, I tolerated all of this because of the troubled times and the situation that has arisen in the country. During the last few days another matter has come to light. Last year the wife of Korwin-Milewski filed for annulment at the diocesan court and won it. Monsignor Sadowski, the official who had charge of the case and also Monsignor Hanusowicz and Canon Kukta informed me that Father Steckiewicz had inserted the words ex culpa mariti (due to the fault of the husband) in a copy of the court decision. These words were not used in the actual decision. Father Chalecki, the chancellor, also confirmed this. Mr. Korwin-Milewski was offended precisely on account of these words and had asked the chancery to give him an authentic copy of the document. Monsignor Sadowski was of the opinion that the wisest thing for Father Steckiewicz to do would be to go away to America. When Korwin-Milewski finds out that these words were inserted by Steckiewicz, he will be furious and will take him to court. I said that we should wait until the situation is clarified. Perhaps Father Steckiewicz is innocent and will be able to defend himself. Now the thought occurs to me: did Father Steckiewicz, having learned all this and seeing that he would not be able to remain in the chancery any longer, plan to injure me as he was leaving? The fact is that a certain priest had suggested that I should exonerate Father Steckiewicz by ordering that the words ex culpa mariti be inserted in a new copy of the court decision. Naturally, I could not consent. Monsignor Sadowski was also of the opinion that we cannot alter the wording of the decision. It would be 300