Book tells of Communist-era persecution.

Bucharest -- A new book tells of the persecution of Greek Catholics in Romania during the Communist era, including the murder of six bishops.

Speaking the Truth tells how Communists killed countless people in this southeastern European nation for their loyalty to the then outlawed Greek Catholic Church.

The murdered bishops' cause for beatification is being investigated by the Vatican. Also being considered for beatification is Greek-Catholic Cardinal Iuliu Hossu (1885-1970), whose death was caused by long years in prison.

The author, Father Radu Rocanu, a Greek Catholic priest, goes on to declare the "insanity" of the division that separates the Orthodox Church and the Greek-Catholic Church, which is in union with Rome.

The author, who during Communist times founded the Archbishop Iuliu Hossu Mission Society based in Cluj, writes about the Romanian authorities' abolition of the Greek Catholic Church in 1948. The Communists incorporated the Greek churches into the Romanian Orthodox Church, which meant denying their loyalty to Rome.

The Greek Catholic Church was given legal recognition after the 1989 overthrow of dictator Nicolae Ceausescu, but many of her churches and properties have not been restored. (Zenit, Sept. 5, 2003)