The L’Osservatore Romano of January 6, 1972. reports that the Apostolic Exarchate for Ukrainians of the Byzantine rite residing in Brazil has been «elevated to an Eparchy with the title of St. John the Baptist of Curitiba for Ukrainians, rendering it suffragan of the Metropolitan See of Curitiba.»
The same issue of the periodical also reports about the promotion «to the Eparchal See of St. John the Baptist of Curitiba for the Ukrainians, His Excellency Most Reverend Giuseppe Martenez OSBM, titular Bishop of Soldaia and Apostolic Exarch for the Ukrainians in Brazil» and about the promotion «to the titular Episcopal See of Caffa the Reverend Efrem Basilio Krevei, Provincial Superior of the Basilian Order of St. Joséphat In Brazil, appointing him at the same time Coadjutor, with the right of succession, to the Eparch of St. John the Baptist of Curitiba for the Ukrainians.»
The tragic meaning of these appointments for the Ukrainian Catholic Church is clear. The newly created eparchy of Curitiba in Brazil has been, in effect, separated from the Ukrainian Catholic Church and placed under the Jurisdiction of the Latin Archbishop of Curitiba, Brazil. It is obvious that the recent efforts of our hierarchy, (namely the fifth Archiepіscopal Synod of the Ukrainian Catholic Church), to mantain the autonomy and integrity of our Church are being challenged by the Congregation for Eastern Churches. The Latin rite monsignore in Rome are gradually liquidating our Church and incorporating it into the Latin Church. They have chosen the Ukrainian Catholic Church in Brazil as a pilot project for Latinizatіon after their efforts elsewhere met with a dismal failure. The editorial board of the Voice of the Ukrainian Community hopes that our hierarchy united under the leadership of His Beatitude Major Archbishop, Josyf Cardinal Slipyj will take a firm stand in this matter and place the Ukrainian Catholic Eparchy in Brazil under her lawful and legal Jurisdiction, namely that of the Ukrainian Catholic Church.
Vatican Sources reported recently that the Reverend Miroslav Stefan Marusyn has been appointed the new Apostolic Visitator for the Ukrainian
Faithful who reside in Europe and lack a hierarchy. As far as we know, this nomination was also made by the Congregation for Eastern Churches without consultation or consent of the permanent synod of the Ukrainian Catholic Church.
