CZECH CATHOLICS PROTEST AT CONTROL OF CHURCH BY STATE

Grey River Argus, 12 October 1949, Page 5

CZECH CATHOLICS PROTEST AT CONTROL OF CHURCH BY STATE

The Communists’ Bill

PRAGUE, October 10

The Czechoslovak Government’s Bill to assume control of the Church was pased without amendment through the National Assembly’s Social and Political Committee today. At the same time Archbishop Beran called on Czech priests not to allow themselves to be "bought by the silver of Judas” into supporting the Bill. In a message to the priests Archbishop Beran said: “Public consent to this law is treason to the teachings of Christ and His holy Church.”

A Church statement, containing Archbishop Beran’s messagd, said that 40 vicars and deans of Bohemia and Moravia had been arrested within the last few days for opposing the Bill. The statement said the Czech Government had persuaded some priests in three districts to sign documents approving the State plan for control of churches. It declared the Communists were using the threqt of arrest to get priests’ support. The Church must reject the proposed Bill as “anti-Church, anti-social and unjust.” Mr. Cestmir Kracmar, spokesman for the Moscow Patriarch of the Greek Orthodox Church, announced his approval of the Government’s plan. He coupled his statement with a denunciation of the “capitalistic, imperialistic and exploiting elements and warmongers.” The new Church Bill will go into effect on November 1. The Bill provides for clergy to be paid as civil servants —raising their incomes —and gives the State power to control Church appointments, to administer Church property and to control religious schools. Madame E. Durisova, vice-chair-man of the Council of Czechoslovak Minister of Agriculture, said in London today that the reports of recent unrest in Czechoslovakia were “all nonsense.”

Madame Durisova said:" I spoke to my husband on the telephone three days ago and he said that nothing had happened.” She added that Roman Catholics, manufacturers and bankers were opposed to the Czech regime but the great majority of the people were very satisfied. Opposition to the Government or the whole system was not allowed, but, if people wanted to improve something under the system, that was allowed.

A speedway rider, “Split” Waterman, who returned from Prague today said he saw no signs of a purge. “Occasionally we heard odd shots fired in the street and there was an air of tension, but one hardly noticed it,” he said.