Persecution of Churches by Nazis
Exposed in Prof. Conway's Studies
Nazism exercised powerful re-
strictions upon the churches and
the subjugated peoples bowed be-
fore a superior new religion of the
cult of Adolf Hitler.
The mass persecutions of religion
by the Nazis are well known, and
now they are a matter of record in
an excellently compiled account
based on the research done by an
able scholar. In "The Nazi Perse-
cution of the Churches, 193345,"
Prof. John S. Conway of the Uni-
versity of British Columba in Van-
couver exposes the crimes, tells in
detail about the restrictions im-
posed on the clergy and relates how
a handful protested, resisted, was
cruelly punished for failure to ad-
here to the Hitler code.
fered from the Nazis, and this as-
pect of the tyranny is thoroughly
presented by Dr. Conway, who
states:
"The sufferings of Christians in
the years of Nazi persecution were
the toll exacted by an overwhelm-
ing tyranny convinced of its own
superiority and determined to have
its own way."
The courage of Martin Niemoller
is recorded. In some ranks there
"was a new awareness of Chris-
tianity's bond with the Chosen Peo-
ple of Israel" as a result of the
sense of shame that emerged with
the erupted Nazi anti-Semitism.
But the deplorable record of
Pope Pius XII who failed to pro-
test against the indignities is
alluded to -as part of the excoria-
tion of Christians who adhered to
the Nazi ideology.
Prof. Conway's volume has spe-
cial significance for the inclusion
as appendixes of valuable docu-
ments that elaborate upon the sub-
ject of his book.
Exposing the sin of Christian sup-
port of Nazism, the author has
included the text of "The 10 Prin-
ciples of the Religious Movement
of 'German Christians.' "
Then there is the record of the
"Treatment of a Lutheran Pastor
Who Protested Against the Perse-
cution of the Jews in 1938." It is
the story of the mistreatment and
imprisonment of Pastor Julius von
Jan of Oberlenningen, Wuerttem-
berg, for a sermon he delivered
Nov. 13, 1938.
Dr. Conway adds immensely to
the record exposing the Nazi
crimes and his "The Nazi Perse-
cution of the Churches" is of im-
mense value in revealing the- niellc
ods resorted to by the Hitler Hordes
in mistreating and torturing op-
ponents.
While revealing the extent of
of the Nazi persecutions of the
churches, Prof. Conway at the
same time indicates how many in
the churches went along with the
Nazis in their anti-Semitic pro-
grams and how Hitlerism domin-
ated the churches in the spread
of hatred against Jewry.
These persecutions began in the
early years of Hitler's rule over
Germany. Prof. Conway indicates:
"Early in 1935, a new Nazi tactic
was devised for stirring up anti-
clerical feelings amongst the popu-
lation. A campaign of vilification of
the clergy and of members of the
religious orders was launched
which, it was hoped, would prove
more effective than the doctrinal
disputes of the German Faith
Movement. Priests, monks and
nuns in particular were accused of
violating the complicated currency
regulations, under which no Ger-
man funds could be sent out of the
country, even for the payment cf
long-standing debts or for the sup-
port of German missionaries
abroad. Members of the religious
orders were out on trial in a blaze
of publicity, and unsubstantiated
accustations were leveled against
them that Jewish capital was being I
smuggled out of the country by
their means. Whereas other offend-'
JERUSALEM (JTA) — Israel's
ers against the currency regula-
tions were punished usually by the Nobel Laureate, S. Y. Agnon re-
mained
in a serious condition in a
imposition of a fine, the party in-
sisted thaL every case, however Jerusalem hospital following his
minimal, in which members of the collapse in his home on Tuesday.
religionf orders were involved Hospital authorities said he was
should be prosecuted in the courts losing consciousness from time to
time and was allowed no visitors
of criminal law."
except members of his family.
These beginnings were mild com-
Mr. Agnon, who will be 81 July
pared with what was to come there-
18, was co-winner of the 1966 Nobel
after. "An ersatz theology was built
Prize
for literature.
on the Nazi theories of race" . . .
He was discovered unconscious
and all concepts of religion were
"manipulated to fit into the Nazi in his home in the Talpiot section
of Jerusalem when neighbors, who
dogma."
thought his house was "too quiet,"
They taught the youth to follow summoned police. Mr. Agnon's
Hitler blindly, to share in the wife became ill several days ago
hate. They were trained in Nazi- and was staying at her daughter's
run orphanages.
home at the time.
The record of the crimes commit_
ted by Martin Bormann, Alfred Social Clubs Accept Jews
Rosenberg, Adolf Eichmann and
LOS ANGELES (JTA) — Three
their ilk are enumerated here.
"social clubs" which have main-
"The syllabus for religious edu- tained totally non-Jewish member-
cation was increasingly altered to ship policies have yielded to a 10-
eliminate the Jewish background, . year campaign of "moral persua-
particularly by the rigorous exci- sion" from three Jewish agencies
sion of passages from the Old and have agreed to accept Jewish
Testament," Dr. Conway notes, membership applications, accord-
and he adds: "In the teaching of ing to Neil C. Sandberg, regional
the Gospels Jesus was presented as director of the American Jewish
a Germanic hero, and long debates Committee.
were held over whether He had in
The Stock Exchange Club, the
fact been a member of the Jewish University Club and the Chancery
race. According to one Nazi ver- Club all have "changed their policy
sion, He could not have been a Jew of exclusion of Jews voluntarily,"
because there are no Jewish car- Sandberg reported, "without public
penters anywhere in the world ..." exposure and pressure." He added
There was "discomfiture" in the clubs did so "on moral grounds
the churches after the "Crystal and because they were persuaded
Night" attacks' when 177 syna- it was the right thing to do." The
gogues were burned, but the two assisting Jewish organizations
churchmen were "silent even in were the American Jewish Con-
the face of such monstrous out- g r e s s and the Anti-Defamation
rages." Only the Catholic Provost League of Bnai Brith, he said.
Lichtenberg of Berlin led his con-
gregation in prayer for the per- Negligence Charged
secuted non-Aryans.
JERUSALEM (JTA)—The Knes-
The nature of the Nazis' inten- set finance committee has rebuked
the
health ministry, charging neg-
tions and the innate anti-Semitism
of churchmen were manifested ligence in application of regula-
after the November 1938 "Kristall- tions covering autopsies in govern-
nacht," and the record in this book men hospitals, an issue which has
agitated Orthodox Jews inside and
is one of shameful acts inidicts.
But the churches themselves suf- outside of Israel.
A anon's Condition
Remains Serious
Israelis Arrest Man
Wanted in California
on Marijuana Charge
JERUSALEM — Dick Scott,
American leader of a private-
enterprise settlement of immi-
grants in the Golan Heights, was
arrested by Israeli police on an
extradition request by the U.S.
State Department.
State Department officials said
the extradition of Scott was sought
on California charges of importing
and possessing marijuana for sale.
Scott asserted, in a Tel Aviv
magistrate's court, that he had
fled California because he was
being threatened by criminals for
helping federal authorities.
Israeli pollee officials asked for
a 15-day detention order while
they studied the request for extra-
dition. Scott is being held in cus-
tody for seven days.
His arrest followed a two-
month investigation by Israeli
and American police officials.
The investigation developed from
a photograph and article pub-
lished in the New York Times
on the establishment in the
Israeli-occupied Syrian territory.
A reader recognized Scott as a
man wanted by the California
authorities, and this information
was turned over to the Israelis.
Jewish Chaplains
Enter U.S. Forces
Seventeen new Jewish military
chaplains have entered the U.S1
Armed Forces in time to plan Rosh
Hashana services which they will
conduct for Jewish military per-
sonnel, it was announced by Rabbi
Edward T. Sandrow, chairman of
the National Jewish Welfare Board
commission on' 3e9listPthaplaincy
and spiritual leader of Temple Beth
El, Cedarhurst, N.Y. Rosh Ha-
shana begins at sundown Sept. 12,
Eleven of the new chaplains have
gone into the Army. Three are as-
signed to the Air Force and three
to the Navy. Two of the Air Force
chaplains and one in the Navy have
overseas assignments. The other
14 chaplains will be on duty at in-
stallations in the continental United
States.
I cannot easily buy a blank book
to write thoughts in; they are com-
monly ruled for dollars and cents.
—Henry David Thoreau.
Friday, July 18, 1969
THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS
-
El Al Reports Record Passenger List, High Profit
TEL AVIV (JTA)—E1 Al, Israel's
national airline, carried a record
number of passengers and earned
a record profit during the last fiscal
year despite the fact that two of its
planes were targets of fatal attacks
by Arab terrorists during that pe-
riod.
According to Mordechai Ben Ari,
the airline's managing director, the
company earned a net profit of
$1,880,000 after taxes and will dis-
tribute its first dividend of $120,000
in cash and $145,000 in bonus
shares. Transport Minister Moshe
Carmel disclosed that El Al carried
over a million passengers last year
and predicted that the number
would double in the next four years.
Al's trans-Atlantic route increased
by 35 per cent compared to a six
per cent increase averaged by
other airlines on the same route.
An El Al airliner was attacked by
Arab terrorists at Athens Airport
last December resulting in the
death of one passenger. A pilot
trainee was fatally wounded in an-
other attack at Zurich Airport in
March.
MUSIC IN THE FASHION
OF WILD GYPSY PASSION
JOCELYN
4
And Her Gypsies
to 20 Men Available
474-7638
Carmel said that traffic on El
Nixon May Discuss
Mideast with Wilson
WASHINGTON (JTA)—State De_
partment sources said it is "very
likely" that President Richard M.
Nixon would review the latest Mid-
dle East developments with British
Premier Harold Wilson when he
stops off in London on the last leg
of his round-the-world tour on Aug.
3. White House spokesman Ronald
Ziegler announced that Nixon has
added Britain to his itinerary. He
will also visit Asian countries and
Romania.
SAVE. 25% ON
NATIONALLY ADVERTISED
STERLING SILVER
NORTHWOOD JEWELRY
2602 N. Woodward LI 9-1885
Music the Stein-Way
DICK STEIN
& ORCHESTRA
LI 7-2770
FELDBRO QUALITY MEATS
(Trimmed Rite, Priced Rite)
FELDBRO CHOICE QUALITY
Boneless, Whole
BEEF BRISKETS
All Sizes
9.
2 blocks W. of Evergreen
corner Kentfield
to
6;
Thurs.,
Fri.,
Sat.,
13 to 9; Sunday, 9 to 6
Mon., Tues., Wed., 8
20233 W. 7 Mile
KE 4-7522
FREE PARKING
WE CAN SAVE YOU MONEY
OUR DIRECT MILL PURCHASING POWER . . . COMBINED
WITH OUR LOW OVERHEAD & HIGH VOLUME ALLOWS US
TO PASS ON TO YOU CARLOADS OF DOLLAR SAVINGS OF
10% - 20% - 30% AND MORE ON ANY AND MANY -OF YOUR
CARPET NEEDS.
KITCHEN SPECIAL
PORCH-PATIO-POOL
THICK-CLEAR VINYL
NYLON - HERCULON® -
OLEFIN
INDOOR — OUTDOOR
CARPET RUNNERS
ANY 12'x12 or
12'x15' AREA
COMPARE @$1.75
ANY 12'x12 or
12'x15' AREA
159
' COMPLETELY
INSTALLED
29
'99'
COMPLETELY
INSTALLED
99c
per
foot
* PLUS SALES TAX
BROADLOOM SPECIALISTS, Inc.
3996 W. 12 MILE, BERKLEY
2 blocks E. of Greenfield
ALWAYS FIRST QUALITY
399-1240