GERMAN WARNING

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23204, 31 May 1937, Page 9

GERMAN WARNING

ATTITUDE OF THE CHURCH DR GOEBBELS ANNOYED REPLY TO ARCHBISHOP (United Press Association) (By Electric Telegraph—Copyright) BERLIN, May 28. Bitterly replying to Archbishop Mundelein, Dr Goebbels, at a mass meeting of the Nazi Party, issued the warning that most drastic steps would be taken against the high dignitaries of the Catholic Church if Catholics, either in Germany or abroad, continued to criticise the " morality trials " now proceeding in Germany. "Archbishop Mundelein insulted Herr Hitler in a manner impossible to repeat. He called me a dishonest propaganda Minister who arranged the trials solely for the purpose of harming the persecuted Catholic Church. The continual slandering of German justice has forced us to disclose to the vtorld the reasons leading to the arrests of priests and the disclosure of the monstrous mendacity of those, who asserted that, religious motives were responsible Germany does not close her eyes to the dreadful mora] decay which is manifest."

Dr Goebbels recited examples of offences allegedly committed by Catholic educators, and added that the immorality trials were not regrettable isolated events, but a sign of a general moral depravity unparalleled in the cultural history of mankind.

Under the heading " Cardinal Uses Gutter Language," Dr Goebbels's newspaper, Angriff, commenting on the description by Archbishop Mundelein (Chicago) of Herr Hitler as "an Austrian paperhanger," says: "It is a declaration of war and an insult to the entire German nation, including Catholics." It adds: "If Archbishop Mundelein is impertinent enough to talk about atrocity stories and allege that Dr Goebbels asserted that immorality prevailed in all branches of the Catholic Church, he superimposes more dangerous lies upon the first one. Will the Holy See allow him to abuse Germany with impunity? " THE VATICAN'S ATTITUDE ROME, May 29. (Received May 30, at 11 p.m.) Replying to the German protest against Archbishop Mundelein, the Vatican points out that it cannot be responsible for the personal views of individual cardinals, and directs attention to the German Government's inconsistency in permitting press attacks on the Pope.