German Bishops Speak Out

Once again the Roman Catholic bishops of Germany raised their corporate voice against religious persecution by the Third Reich. But this time both the character of their complaint (made last December) and the means of its publication (last week by U.S. official OWI) seemed more shrewdly calculated than ever before to implement their attack on the antireligious phases of Nazi philosophy.

Heretofore, the prelates have castigated church conditions in Germany. This time they turn their eyes toward occupied lands.

The document came to the U.S. State Department in a diplomatic pouch from Vatican City, was soon in the hands of the Office of War Information. With OWI as its pressagent, it got wide and prompt newspaper coverage, was also assured of European circulation as a piece of first-rate propaganda against the Nazis.

The bishops spoke not only as good Catholics but as patriotic Germans. To Dr. Bernhard Rust, Reich Minister for Church Affairs, they pointed out the "rampart of bitterness and enmity" rising against Germans because of religious persecution in occupied lands, denounced Nazi persecution in language he could understand: "unwise politically."

Country by Country. The document signed by aged (84) Adolph Cardinal Bertram, Archbishop of Breslau, noted that in Alsace-Lorraine, where the populace received the Nazis "with great enthusiasm," there is now hatred of Germany.

Likewise, Luxembourg "received the German troops in a friendly way," now detests "all Germans" because of "closing of the monasteries . . . numerous banishments of priests . . . [deaths of] citizens in concentration camps."

On Catholic Poland, declared the prelates, the Germans have laid the heaviest cross. Almost all churches have been closed, some are "used for profane purposes . . . warehouses . . . a riding school." Even priests "who stood up for the German population under the Poles" have been persecuted. "Tabernacles have been broken open . . . the Most Holy Sacrament desecrated in the vilest way."

Similar was the record in Yugoslavia. There "priests and members of Orders have been forced out, entirely without means . . . or have been placed in concentration camps." The enthusiasm which existed for Germany "in 90% of the population" has turned "into hatred."

Noting that they write in "this solemn hour when it is important to collect all strength for the welfare of the Fatherland," the bishops called for a halt to the "unrestricted antireligious agitation of Star party officers . . . destructive measures against the Church and Christianity. . . . One cannot expect to win hard-working and upright people for Germany and at the same time destroy the happiness of their hearts. . . . One cannot undertake to build a new and fairer Europe and to destroy Christianity at the same time."

This file is automatically generated by a robot program, so reader's discretion is required.