The History of the Roman-Catholic Church in Southern Bohemia in 1968-1972

In this article, another part of the Roman-Catholic Church's history in Southern Bohemia, the period from 1968 to 1972, is mapped. The article is based on the book by Martin Weis, Minutěnky vzpomínek na pastýře lidu svého (Prague: Panevropa, 1999) and complemented with other archive materials, previously unpublished testimonies by contemporaries and quotations from the periodicals. The years in this country were typical with great hopes and optimism, as well as deep disappointment and gradual resignation due to the ongoing "normalization". The introductory part describes a ceremonial return of Bishop Dr. Josef Hlouch to the diocese of České Budějovice. It is followed by an interview with Bishop Hlouch documenting his attitude to the events in August 1968. There is also a description of Bishop Hlouch's journeys to Rome and his other activities in the diocese administration. The concerned period in the diocese of České Budějovice ends with the Bishop Josef Hlouch's death and funeral.

Keywords: Regional history; History of the Roman-Catholic Church; Southern Bohemia history; Prague Spring