Czech Churches May Be State Controlled

Northern Advocate, 16 July 1949, Page 5

Czech Churches May Be State Controlled

PRAGUE, Fri. (10.30 a.m.). —The Minister of Justice (M. Alexei Ccpicka) today accused the Roman Catholic Archbishop (Josef Reran) and members of his Hierarchy of treason against the state.

At the same time he disclosed the draft of a bill prepared for the Czechoslovak National Assembly’s approval .giving the state full control over all churches.

M. Cepicka said Archbishop Behan maintained “treacherous connections with foreign enemies” and that, in connivance with Vatican commissaries, he plotted “treacherous and anti-state riots.”

"This is a terrible indictment,” said M. Ccpicka. who did not indicate what action, if any. would be taken against Archbishop Beran and the bishops who have stood with him in the fight against what they call a campaign to throttle the church.

M. Ccpicka linked Archbishop Beran with Cardinal Mindszenty in what he called the plotting of underground and anti-state activity. He said that Cardinal Mindszenty—imprisoned for life by the Hungarian Communist Govt.— sought an entry visa to Czechoslovakia last year to meet Archbishop Beran and to “advise him. from his own experience with underground and anti-state activities in Hungary.” The arrest of Cardinal Mindszenty had stopped the meeting. WIIISTERS OF WAR M. Cepicka further claimed that Monsignor Gennaro Verolino, until recently Charge d’Afifaires in the Vatican nunciature, and other Vatican emissaries in Czechoslovakia had whispered to Czech chinch leaders that there would be a new world war in which the Communist state? would be overthrown. The Vatican wanted revolts started in these countries to hasten the process, he said.

M. Cepicka said it was hoped that Archibshop Beran and others would reflect on their responsibilities. Archbishop Beran has been under police surveillance in his Prague palace since June 6, when Communist hecklers hooted him out of his throne in St Vitus' Cathedral, and stopped a sermon in which he accused the Government of trying to divide ana crush the church. EXCOMMUNICATION ORDER

M. Cepicka also said that anyone who tried to carry out the Vatican order of excommunication of Roman Catholics in the Communist Party would be committing treason. He said one-third of the Czech Roman Catholics were Communists and more than four-fifths were members of National Front organisations. The bill which has been prepared for tire National Assembly gives the slate power over the church finances, administration and appointments. It says that all church appointments, including the appointment of bishops and archbishops, may be refused if the state does not like the candidates.

The bill will be discussed by the church committee of the Central Action Committee before being presented to the Assembly, which is at present in Rome and from dioceses. MANY CONTROLS

All churches are required to make an inventory of all their property and will be forbidden to sell or transfer it without approval. Church expenses arc to be budgeted yearly in advance. All patronage in church affairs or property is to be transferred to the state.

The bill puts into effect the declared Communist policy of isolating the Roman Catholic hierarchy from Rome and from dioceses. Reuters Vatican City correspondent states that threats to excommunicate Communists were the consequence of attempts being made behind the Iron Curtain to create a new international Communist church, says the Vatican newspaper Osservatore' Romano. It was apparent that the possibility of an opposition Catholic Church was one of the main considerations of the Holy Office in drafting the excommunication decree. * The new Communist Catholic church would amount to a new “Reformation.”