DENIED SACRAMENT.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVII, Issue 154, 1 July 1936, Page 17

DENIED SACRAMENT.

NAZIS IN HOLLAND. DUTCH PRIESTS' ACTION. AMSTERDAM. The Roman Catholic clergy, thenprevious opposition to national Socialism apparently unsuccessful, united to crush the German movement by denying holy Sacraments to its supporters. The Archbisihop of Utrecht, head of the Church in Netherlands, instructed his subordinates to read a pastoral letter in all churches and chapels, which said: "We remain convinced that the Church and our country will be grievously damaged and the fulfilling of the task of bringing grace will be rendered impossible when the Nazi movement get 3 the upper hand. Therefore we,'the sheplierd3 of your souls, in full knowledge of our responsibility, declare that those who materially support this movement Mill be banned from the Sacraments." The Catholic bishops, as rfir back as February 11, 1934, prohibi ted persons employed by the Cathoiic action oi otherwise under the Church's supervision to join the Nazis or astwt ra spreading tHe movement. Membership in the Netherlands Nazi organisation totals 55,000. The party members wear black uniforms, a violation of Dutch law. They do not drill.