Vatican Concordat

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXXI, 19 January 1938, Page 2

Vatican Concordat

Notes on the News

A decree aiming at ibc total abolition of the Romau Catholic Church from education ill Bavaria is regarded as a direct breach of the Vatican Concordat.

Vice-Chancellor von Pa pen and Cardinal Paeelli signed a concordat between Germany and the Vatican ou July 20, 1933. It combinea in one treaty those existing between Prussia, Bavaria and Baden, and tbe Vatican.

It provides that in purely ecclesiastical matters the Roman Catholics retain their freedom in the matter of organisation, coutaet with Rome, schools and other religious activities: but they are to take no part as an organised body in politics in opposition to the Nazi State.

Friction between the Nazi Government and the Roman Catholics has been largely over the control of education and youth organisations (the independence of which is guaranteed by the Concordat), increased by unauthorised activities of local Nazi zealota and subordinate officials. Bavaria

Bavaria, fibfore the complete unifica tion of the German States was brought about by Herr Hitler, was considered the most important State after Prussia, both in area and population. It is divided into two unequal parts, the one, Bavaria proper, which occupies at least eleven-twelfths of the whole area, and the other the Palatinate of the Rhine, which is divided from Bavaria proper by the States of Baden and Hesse.

Bavaria proper is surrouuded bv groat ranges of mountains on three sides, the west side being bounded by Wurt tom berg, Baden and Hesse. The country consists mainly of an extensive plateau, which has an average height of nearly 2300 feet. It belongs principally to the basins of the Danube and flu* Alain, the most important river being the Danube, which follows a winding course of about 200 miles long throughout Bavaria. The Palatinate b bounded by a lofty range of hills, the Rhino and Alsace. The area of the two divisions is over 29,000 square miles.

There are two Roman Catholic universities and one Lutheran. Almost three-quarters of the |K>pulation are Roman Catholic.

Agriculture is an iui|>oriaut industry, coal, iron-ore. graphite and salt are mined, while the chief industry is brewing, there being more than f*ooo breweries with an output of more than 100.000.000 gallons of lieer annually, Mie greater part being consumed within the country itself. Cotton, porcelain, hardware, wooden toys, glass and cement are also manufactured. Munich Is the capital.