Katalikų dvasininkijos dalyvavimas 1918 m. kuriant savivaldybes Lietuvoje

LTDarbe nagrinėjamas vietos valdžios formavimo klausimas Lietuvoje 1918 m., kuomet dar nebuvo konkrečių centro valdžios instrukcijų ir daug laisvės buvo palikta vietinei žmonių iniciatyvai. Straipsnyje atskleidžiama, kaip Lietuvos Valstybės Taryboje kilo nemaža prieštaravimų sukėlęs sumanymas rinkti parapinius komitetus, kaip jis paveikė katalikų dvasininkiją, kokią įtaką tuo metu turėjo kunigai ir kiek jų patekdavo į savivaldybių organus, kaip į tai reagavo kairiųjų pažiūrų žmonės. [Iš leidinio]Reikšminiai žodžiai: Dvasininkija; Katalikų dvasininkija; Kunigas; Parapija; Savivaldybė; Savivaldybės; Valstybės taryba; Valsčius; Vietos valdžios kūrimas; Catholic clergy; Clergy; Lithuanian Council; Local self-government; Parish; Priest; The establishment of local authorities.

ENIn the autumn of 1918, after the international situation changed, Germany modified its policy in Lithuania and allowed the Lithuanian Council form the Government, which began to organize the administrative apparatus and local self-governments. The Lithuanian Council decided to use the church organization and its parishes (parish is an area cared for by one priest which has its own church) and urged people to elect parish committees. The Lithuanian Council (the right wing parties had the majority there) wanted the Catholic Church to give its support. The other reason was the stability of parish lines. The Lithuanian Council passed an appeal on November 11, 1918 in which people were asked to elect parish committees. The Catholic clergy willingly began to participate in parish committees organizing, they understand it as their duty. The appeal was announced in the churches and the election was held after services. Priests often were the initiators, they also conducted the electoral meetings. The clergy of almost all strata was participating in this process. Some disagreements arose among them, especially for subordination. The clergy was not monolithic, there were priests treating the establishment of the new state with indiference. In the areas where the Lithuanians and Polish lived together relationship there were complicated. Whether the parish committee was pro-lithuanian or pro-polish in the most cases depended on the priest. There was lack of educated people during that period in Lithuania and the clergy was the main intelligentsia. There was much space to take the local initiative in the establishing of the Lithuanian selfgovernments, the methods of electing were very different. On several occasions they were not democratic. These ways and means allowed priests easier get in parish committees. One or two priests also took part in district self-governments.All left wing parties of Lithuania condemned the priests taking part in politics and social life. According to them the priest must stay in a church. There were many inhabitants who did agree with the policy of left wing parties. On many occasions inhabitants were opposite about the priests initiative to elect parish committee or to lead it. Under such circumstanses the process of organization of local self - governments was complicated and chaotic. The special circular was passed in January of 1919. It stated about liquidating of parish committees. People had to elect "valsčius" committees instead of parish committees. The project of electing parish committees did not serve the purpose. There was some confusion over that idea. Some new "valsčius" self-governments were elected and their lines were equal to parish lines. [From the publication]