(2 of 3)
Next day Father Orlemanski's parishioners rousingly greeted their flying pastor at the Springfield railroad station. He described them as 100% behind him except for "a couple of rats who try to stir things up."
Four hours later Diocesan Chancellor George A. Shea served Father Orlemanski with a two-page typewritten document from Bishop Thomas Mary O'Leary. The Bishop suspended Father Orlemanski from his priestly functions, bade him retire to a monastery "until further notice." Reason: 1) absence from the parish over Sunday without permission; 2) "treating with Communists." Said Chancellor Shea: "That's the whole problem here, isn't it? Treating with Communists?"*
Father Orlemanski's calm cracked. He pounded his desk. Said he: "This will be a more interesting story all over the world, it is so wrong." Three Crosses. Then he described his fix in a Biblical image that might well have made tonsured scalps crawl. "I am willing to be crucified for my Church be cause I went to Moscow for my Church and I can state that I have two other brothers who are priests, and they will be crucified with me, and there will be three.
I have done nothing immoral, nothing transgressing God's law." He cried: "I have definite plans concerning both the Poles and the Church.
Stalin gave me a promise that he will do all in his power to cooperate with the Church so there will be no persecutions.
That is why [the "wonderful news" about Poland] was secret. . . . Stalin knew that I was going to give it to the Apostolic Delegate. I went to take up the question of the Church in Poland, the Ukraine and White Russia. Stalin said 'No,' he wanted it to be universal . . .against persecution of the Church any where.
"Let's make a test case on religion. If we can't have faith in Stalin on religion, how can we in material things? He is not only willing to cooperate with us materi ally, but morally. ... If Stalin violated his word, it would concern not only the Roman Catholic Church, but all Churches — that's why these two questions carry so many answers." Yours in Christ. Father Orlemanski was worried about how Stalin would react to Bishop O'Leary's action. Said he sadly: "I shouldn't think he would feel good about it. I tried to do this on my own and was successful. Although I am a small man I have something in my hand. I required his signature and he gave it to me. If there is anything in this letter [Stalin's] that is supposed to be wrong then I am being punished for doing good to my own Church. If he hears things like that then Stalin will be irritated." Later in the day Father Orlemanski rallied, sent a crisp reply to Bishop O'Leary, "Dear Bishop : You are hereby notified that I am no longer under your jurisdiction, but the jurisdiction of the Apostolic Delegate in Washington, D.C.