CATHOLIC PRIEST DISCIPLINED

Press, Volume LXXX, Issue 24258, 16 May 1944, Page 5

CATHOLIC PRIEST DISCIPLINED

CONVERSATIONS WITH MR STALIN ORDERED TO RETIRE TO MONASTERY (N.Z. Press Association —C'cpvriglit) (Bee. 10 p.m.) NEW YORK. May 14. Father Orlemanski, the PousnAmerican Catholic priest who recently visited Mr Stalin at Moscow, has been ordered to retire to a monastery oi his own choosing. The order was made by Father Orle.nan sin's superior. Bishop O’Leary, who also divested Father Orlemanski of his right to perform the Divine Oflice. Fattier Shea, Bishop O Leary s spokesman, said that these penalties were invoked because Father Onemanski had absented himself on Sunday without his bishop’s permission, and had treated with Communists, in particular with Mr Stalin and Mr Molotov. which, in view of the utterances of several Popes against Communism, was considered a violation of the Canonic Law. ( Father Orlemanski told newspapers yesterday that he intended to celebrate Mass in his own church today, but he did not appear at any of the four Masses celebrated. Father Baranowski, the curate designated by Bishop O’Leary as administrator of the parish during Father Orlemanski’s suspension, said the case was closed and pointed out the fact that Father Orlemanski had not appeared in thtt church indicated that he was abiding by the bishop’s order. Father Orlemanski yesterday said: “I have been crucified for my church, I went to Moscow to see whet 1 could do for the Catholic Church in Poland, the Ukraine, and White Russia, but Mr Stalin made it universal. He went beyond my expectations and agreed to co-operate with the Church against persecution anywhere.” Father Shea later announced that Father Orlemanski had decided to accept Bishop O’Leary’s instructions to ’leave his parish and retire to a monastery. Father Orlemanski was leaving within three weeks. The length Of time he spent in seclusion was dependent on the duration of public interest in the case.

Father Shea added: "It is customary to wait until a matter like this has quietened down, and then settle it privately.” , Father Shea declared that the authorities were still officially unaware and were largely uncqncemed with the nature of Father Orlemanski’s conversations with Mr Stalin and Mr Molotov. He pointed out that Father Orlemanski was able to dispatch any information or documents-to the Holy See through the Apostolic Delegate in Washington. Mr Stanley Ciak, a friend of Father Orlemanski and treasurer to parish societies, said that his parishioners were 100 per cent, behind Father Orlemanski. V