BISHOPS' PROTEST

Evening Post, Volume CXXXV, Issue 136, 10 June 1943, Page 5

BISHOPS' PROTEST

DEPORTATION INJUSTICE

(Rec. 11.15 a.m.)

RUGBY, June 9

A sharply-worded pastoral letter read in all Roman Catholic churches in Holland on May 16 deals with the deportation of Dutchmen for work in Germany. It states: "This is deportation on a larger scale than the Christian world has ever known. For such happenings we must go back to the times of the Babylonian exile. Posterity would consider it to our eternal shame if we viewed this injustice silently. Initially it was said that Netherlanders must work elsewhere because there was neither bread nor work for them here. Now, as has been explicitly stated, they must work for Germany to assure German victory. "According to the Fourth Commandment, we must honour and love our country and make sacrifices for it. Now we may not only do nothing for our country, but we are eyen forced, under threat of heavy punishment, to help the enemy, though it is being presented that it is the duty of all Christians to fight against Bolshevism. This is only i catch phrase. He who really desires to fight against 'godless Bolshevism' must not suppress Christianity by all manner of means as is done by Nazism,." The letter is signed by Dr. Jong, Archbishop of Utrecht and head of the Roman Catholic Church in Holland, arid by Holland's four bishops.—B.O.W.