Mapping the Status of the Greek Catholic Church after 1948 from the Perspective of Selected Local Periodicals

Abstract

Aim. The article discusses the status of the Greek Catholic Church from 1948 to 1950. It also presents how this period was presented through media. Since it is possible to investigate this aspect within the framework of a comparison of several media channels, we have decided to introduce the comparison through the perspective of the daily-newspaper Rudé právo. Methods. The findings of our research study are based on the data collected from archival and documentary sources, as well as professional studies and monographs related to the above-mentioned topic. Results. Based on our research topic, we can understand how the attitude towards the Greek Catholic Church changed after the events of February 1948 and what impact the change of regime had on its functioning. Regarding media, we can observe how the pressure on the Greek Catholic Church changed in relation to the regime change and individual historical events, and how the media expressed its opinion on the Church. Conclusion. Media is not only a source of information for people, but it also creates public opinion, and therefore, it was extremely important to control this state apparatus in the past. We must understand that availability of information in the 1950s and today is significantly different. Catholic periodicals were almost non-existent and thus, people often received misleading or false information. Through our research, which is presented in the tabular presentation of data, we can discover the increasing pressure against the Church, and the response of the public to the Church.