The Rumanian Orthodox Episcopate of America, in its annual convention at Grass Lake, Mich., adopted a strong resolution backing Archbishop Valerian D. Trifa and pledging to aid in his defense against the U.S. Department of Justice in the move to have him deported as a participant in Nazi crimes and the murder of Jews in Rumania during the years of the Hitler regime.
The resolution on behalf of Trifa stated that he “has been subjected to continuous attacks on his reputation in order to disrupt his leadership.” and that “these continued attacks have culminated in a judicial proceeding intended to smear and destroy his reputation, which interferes with the peace and religious freedom of the members of the Episcopate.” The convention also reaffirmed “its trust in and allegiance” to Trifa, pledged its support in his defense, and sent a copy of the resolution to President Ford.
Two weeks ago, the U.S. Attorney in Detroit formally charged Trifa with having won his naturalization through “false and untrue” denials of membership in the Iron Guard and participation in the murder of Jews and Masons in Rumania in 1941.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
