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| This summer, in Ziarul Lumina, Adrian N. Petcu tells us that Bishop Policarp Morusca was “exiled in his own country…[because of] political considerations … from 1939 on, [and] after 1945… politics … would impose its abusive decisions upon the organization and operations of the Church…” Quite clear, emphatic and direct. Yet only 4 months later the author changes his stance. In a fall article in the same newspaper, Petcu announces that: “…in 1939 Bishop Policarp was kept in the homeland due to intrigues launched from America… [and] problems arose caused by certain priests who, lacking canonical responsibility, tried to influence the governance of the Episcopate…” Why this change, this about face? | |||
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| In the June 9, 2011 edition of the ‘Ziarul Lumina’ (ziarullumina.ro) an article entitled ‘The Exile of Bishop Policarp Morusca of America’ by Adrian N. Petcu affirms that: “Bishop Policarp Morusca of America was exiled in his own country. He was exiled … from 1939 … and for the same reasons - political considerations- after 1945, the bishop could not go to his Romanians in America… After 1939, the bishop was kept in the homeland because, in a discourse, it seems that he made an allusion to the immoral situation that King Carol II was indulging in… After 1945, the political element had changed, and it did not look well upon a man from the past pastoring over the Romanians across the ocean. Thus, … and not for the first time… politics … would impose its abusive decisions upon the organization and operations of the Church…” Please find below Petcu’s June 9 full article.
“The Exile of Bishop Policarp Morusca of America” by Adrian N. Petcu “It might seem strange, but Bishop Policarp Morusca of America was exiled in his own country. He was exiled because, from 1939 on, he was no longer permitted to pastor those he received as his flock upon being ordained to the episcopacy. Yet, as had happened in 1939 and for the same reasons, the bishop could not go to his Romanians in America after 1945. The same political considerations directed the path of Policarp Morusca’s episcopacy. After 1939, the bishop was kept in the homeland because, in a discourse, it seems that he made an allusion to the immoral situation that King Carol II was indulging in. Just like what had happened in the case of Metropolitan Gurie of Bessarabia. After 1945, the political element had changed, and it did not look well upon a man of the past pastoring over the Romanians across the ocean. Thus, Policarp the hierarch, remained in an exile imposed by politics which not for the first time would impose its abusive decisions upon the organization and operations of the Church. Bishop Policarp remained in his native Craiova, served at the Cathedral in Alba Iulia and lived in the “St. John the Baptist” Skete that oversees the capital of The Great Union.” (Source: www.ziarullumina.ro) June 9 2011, unofficial translation.
In the October 13, 2011 edition of the ‘Ziarul Lumina’ (ziarullumina.ro) an article entitled ‘From the Correspondence of Bishop Policarp to his flock across the ocean’ also by Adrian N. Petcu affirms that: “Beyond the problems regarding Autonomy written into the text of the Episcopate’s Bylaws, in 1939 Bishop Policarp was kept in the homeland due to intrigues launched from America… The war came, and it appears that Bishop Policarp had no further hope of a quick return to the midst of his faithful. In America, problems arose caused by certain priests who, lacking canonical responsibility, tried to influence the governance of the Episcopate. It is concerning these kinds of matters that Bishop Policarp speaks of in a letter … to the Romanian Consul in America: “I cannot reply so mildly on the issue of the vicariate of Fr. Archpriest Truta… But is His Reverence the underling of the [Government] Minister Irimescu, in that he seeks the vicarship from him?… So long as the Missionary Episcopate has its titular head they will seek in vain to skirt around the issues. For the Church has her own, autonomous, laws.” This is only a fragment of a letter by the American bishop which shows up the statutory violations committed by some American priests, matters that become ever more pointed right up to the installation of Communism in Bucharest, when there takes place the unhappy spiritual rupture of the Romanians abroad.” Please find below Petcu’s October 13 full article.
“From the Correspondence of Bishop Policarp to his flock across the ocean” by Adrian N. Petcu “The founding of the Romanian Episcopate in America in 1934 encountered many difficulties, both on the new continent as well as in the homeland. It appeared that the problems were resolved by the election in 1935 of a bishop, in the person of Archimandrite Policarp Morusca. Beyond the problems regarding Autonomy written into the text of the Episcopate’s Bylaws, in 1939 Bishop Policarp was kept in the homeland due to intrigues launched from America that reached the ear of King Carol II. The war came, and it appears that Bishop Policarp had no further hope of a quick return to the midst of his faithful. In America, problems arose caused by certain priests who, lacking canonical responsibility, tried to influence the governance of the Episcopate. It is concerning these kinds of matters that Bishop Policarp speaks of in a letter sent from his native Craiova on 28 January 1941 to the Romanian Consul in America: “I cannot reply so mildly on the issue of the vicariate of Fr. Archpriest Truta. As much as I value him as the most capable priest over there … But is His Reverence the underling of the [Government] Minister Irimescu, that he seeks the vicarship from him? Only now has this come to my attention. I do not know if this proposal has gotten to the Holy Synod. It has not gone before the sessions of the High Council Body. Neither was I ever informed of the erection of a “cathedral” in Cleveland; news that came to me by other channels … Fr. Truta knows the channels laid down by Article 132 of the Bylaws. And it was based on that provision that I named him vicar, back in Autumn, 1938. Yet he renounced it then. And when he was called to the office anew in the plenary session of the Council of the Episcopate - he refused. So long as the Missionary Episcopate has its titular head they will seek in vain to skirt around the issues. For the Church has her own, autonomous, laws.” This is only a fragment of a letter by the American bishop which shows up the statutory violations committed by some American priests, matters that become ever more pointed right up to the installation of Communism in Bucharest, when there takes place the unhappy spiritual rupture of the Romanians abroad.” (Source: www.ziarullumina.ro) October 13, 2011, unofficial translation.
What happened to the author between June 9 and October 13 2011? What could warrant such a dramatic change in point of view in the same newspaper after only 4 months, particularly when concerning issues that happened 70 years ago, and this without explanation? Strange indeed. In the first article Adrian N. Petcu tells us that the destiny of Bishop Policarp Morusca is imposed by Romanian “politics” before and after 1945. In the second article Petcu lets us surmise that, in the first place, there exist “…problems regarding Autonomy written into the text of the Episcopate’s Bylaws…” In the second place the author tells us that “… in 1939 Bishop Policarp was kept in the homeland due to intrigues launched from America…” In the third place the author introduces the word ‘canonical’ into the discussion: “In America, problems arose caused by certain priests who, lacking canonical responsibility, tried to influence the governance of the Episcopate…” In the fourth place Fr. Trutza, the leader of the Vatra priests, is targeted in a letter to the Romanian Consul in America from Bishop Morusca who declares: “…So long as the Missionary Episcopate has its titular head, they will seek in vain to skirt around the issues…” In the fifth place Petcu repeats the old threat: “This is only a fragment of a letter… which shows up the statutory violations committed by some American priests.” In the sixth place Petcu tells us that these matters: “become ever more pointed right up to the installation of Communism in Bucharest, when there takes place the unhappy spiritual rupture of the Romanians abroad.” And we now understand the “About Face”. History must urgently be rewritten by blaming those from the Vatra for “the unhappy spiritual rupture of the Romanians abroad” which followed the communist takeover of power in Bucharest, never again mentioning the “…abusive decisions upon the organization and operations of the Church [imposed by political considerations] in order to now justify abandoning the OCA (Orthodox Church in America) and the entry of the Vatra under BOR (Romanian Orthodox Church) which itself continues to report to the political element in Romania. Some have now descended to attempting to rewrite history in order to justify their present day positions. Sad … very sad. |
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November 2nd, 2011
Iata cum unii incearca sa rescrie istoria, murdarind eroii nostri. Rusine? Vina BOR-ului? Rolul lui Moraru, Moldovan, Ananie, etc?
November 2nd, 2011
Who does Petcu think he is kidding? Remember, only the truth can set you free!
November 3rd, 2011
The rewriting of history is an old habit of Romanian politicians. But those who lie only shepherd the wind.
November 10th, 2011
Who is Mr Petcu & what directs his judgment in selecting from among so much source material? In damage-control mode in '07, the Patriarchate needed researchers to craft a riposte to The Tismaneanu Report, BOR considered Mr Petcu sufficiently reliable to entrust its official Response. Read all about it in a 14 February 2007 article in the Adevarul newspaper by Marius Vasileanu: “BOR îşi face o alternativă la Comisia Tismăneanu” http://www.adevarul.ro/life. [The first paragraph below shows the original article in Romanian, and the second is an unofficial English translation.]
BOR isi face o alternativa la Comisia Tismaneanu:
“Conducerea Bisericii Ortodoxe Romane (BOR) a hotarat ieri sa infiinteze o comisie proprie de cercetare a activitatii Bisericii din perioada comunismului. Purtatorul de cuvant al Patriarhiei, Pr. Constantin Stoica, a declarat, pentru Adevarul, ca membrii "Comisiei de studiu" vor fi George Enache si Adrian Petcu, cercetatori la CNSAS, alaturi de Ionut Tudorie si Paul Brosanovski, teologi. Acestia au fost alesi fiindca "sunt tineri si au o biografie impresionanta". Comisia va lucra sub auspiciile BOR si va fi indrumata de doi istorici academicieni care vor fi anuntati in curand. La finalul celor 2-3 ani de cercetari, se intentioneaza ca "lucrarea rezultata sa fie comunicata si supusa recenzarii unui for stiintific format din istorici si specialisti, precum se desfasoara sustinerea unei teze de doctorat", ne-a spus Pr. Stoica.” (Vizualizari: 1511)
BOR creates an alternative to the Tismaneanu Commission:
“The leadership of the Romanian Orthodox Church (BOR) decided yesterday to create its own research commission into the Church's activities during the period of communism. Patriarchate Spokesman, Fr. Constantin Stoica, told Adevarul (The Truth) that the members of "The Study Commission" would be George Enache and Adrian Petcu, researchers at CNSAS, along with theologians Ionut Tudorie and Paul Brosanovski. They were picked because "they are young and have impressive biographies." The commission will work under the auspices of the BOR and will be directed by two Historian Academicians who will be announced soon. The intention is that after 2-3 years' research, "the work's results will be communicated and subjected to review by a scientific panel, made up of historians and specialists, in like fashion to the defense of a doctoral thesis," Fr. Stoica told us.” Viewed: 1511 times [unofficial translation].