Ukrainian Church Head Says Soviet Persecution Continues

Archbishop Myroslav Ivan Lubachivsky, cardinal-designate and head of the Ukrainian Catholic Church, stretched out his hand for a perfunctory greeting, then turned quickly to what weighed on his mind.

“Bad news from the old country,” he sighed.

Spiritual leader to an estimated 4.3 million Ukrainian Catholics worldwide, Lubachivsky has been waiting for good news from his homeland in the Soviet Ukraine for more than half his 70 years.

In 1946, Soviet dictator Josef Stalin ordered the Ukrainian church to become part of the Russian Orthodox Church. Priests and dissenters were deported, imprisoned or shot, their churches razed or burned. Lubachivsky cited a news report indicating persecution of Ukrainian Catholic leaders continues.

Religion Under Attack

The Soviet authorities--”the godless communists” to Lubachivsky--”would like to destroy our religion. They say it doesn’t exist,” Lubachivsky said in an interview conducted in English. He will be installed as cardinal today with 27 other churchmen.

“But by this elevation (to cardinal) we are showing them that we still exist as a Catholic church--a strong church--despite the persecution in the old country,” he said.

The thought of a small but significant triumph brings a smile behind the neatly barbered, squarish beard and a light to the blue eyes.

Ukrainian Bishop Robert Michael Moskal of Parma, Ohio, says Lubachivsky is only the fourth Ukrainian to be elevated to cardinal. He, too, sees the appointment as politically significant.

A Blow to Soviets

“Since the Soviets would like to see the Ukrainians wiped off the map . . . any such recognition by the church is a nice blow to them,” Moskal said.

One of the Eastern Rite churches, the Ukrainian church enjoys considerable autonomy from Rome in questions of ritual and discipline.

The relationship between Rome and the Ukrainian church often has been difficult. Most differences have revolved around the level of independence and the tricky question of dealing with Moscow.

Lubachivsky’s predecessor, the late Cardinal Josef Slipyj, was a fiery anti-communist and a survivor of 18 years in Soviet prison camps who was known to be disenchanted with the Vatican’s “detente” with the Soviet Union.

Patriarch Title Denied

The charismatic and outspoken Slipyj, who died last year, also claimed the right to the title of patriarch--or father and head of his church--which would have permitted him to appoint new bishops. The Vatican steadfastly refused him the title.

Pope John Paul II in 1980 named Lubachivsky as Slipyj’s eventual successor. Some Ukrainians were disappointed that the Pope wanted as head of the church a moderate like Lubachivsky, a scholar who specialized in the fine points of liturgy.

The appointment came six months after the Pope had elevated Lubachivsky to head of the 1.5 million American Ukrainian Catholics, a step protested by Slipyj and 16 other Ukrainian bishops who felt they were ignored when the decision was made.

Charisma Lacking

There also were those inside the Ukrainian church who felt Lubachivsky was not as openly critical of the Soviets as Slipyj had been.

“Lubachivsky does things in a different way,” Moskal said. “He hasn’t the charisma that Slipyj had --a martyr who spent all those years in Soviet prison camps.”

Lubachivsky was born in the Ukrainian city of Dolyna and left the Soviet Union in 1938 after his ordination as priest. He spent 33 years in the United States, rising steadily in the ranks to the top U.S. Ukrainian post, in Philadelphia.

He lives in Rome but has retained his U.S. citizenship.

Lubachivsky occasionally reveals glimpses of a quiet warrior at work, although they appear compatible with his soft-spoken, bookish nature and the potted plants he carefully cultivates.

He is known to be pursuing the issue of the patriarchate with the Pope, although without success so far.

He also indicates he has had a hand in the Polish-born Pope’s increasing challenges to the Soviets on the Ukrainian church. “He (the Pope) was handling the situation with gloves, but he’s different now,” Lubachivsky said.

“We have, most of us, learned that you cannot politely deal with them (the Soviets) . . . that you cannot convert them,” he said. He added that he admired the Afghan anti-communist guerrillas “because they’re fighting our fight.”