„CĂ ESTE CATOLICĂ ESTE GRAV, DAR SĂ FIE DIN STATELE UNITE E DEJA PREA MULT”: INTERACȚIUNI UMANITARE ȘI NEGOCIERI POLITICE ÎNTRE STAT ȘI „CATHOLIC WAR RELIEF SERVICES” (CWRS) ÎN ROMÂNIA ANILOR ’40

Abstract

The present text discusses the interactions between the Romanian Communist state and the Roman Catholic Church, especially the United States’ „Catholic War Relief Services”. Based on documents from the Vatican Apostolic Archives, the text shows that, despite the convoluted anti-American and anti-Catholic narratives envisaged by the Romanian communists and the official government propaganda, in late 1940s through tough negotiations, un-orthodox practices, and even blackmail, American Catholic prelates could still score victories over the government in their humanitarian and pastoral work.