PERSECUTED BY NAZIS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24735, 11 October 1941, Page 9

PERSECUTED BY NAZIS

THE CHURCH IN LORRAINE NUNS OUSTED FROM CONVENTS (Rec. 8 p.m.) RUGBY, Oct. 9. Facts about the passionate resistance to the Nazis’ religious persecutions in Lorraine have just reached Free French circles in London. Over 300 priests in this region have been expelled, it is stated, and so uncompromising have they been in their refusal to collaborate that in the great city of Metz there are to-day only three priests, while the densely populated districts of Chateau Salins and Dieuze are served by one or two travelling “ missionaries.” The Gestapo ousted nuns from convents and then tried to persuade them to teach in Germany. The attitude of the nuns towards this ultimatum is 'summed up by the simple statement of a Franciscan sister, who was sent to Germany and later managed to make her way back to France. “I could not teach in a German school without losing my faith." The Nazis attempt to blind French eyes to religious persecution by blaming the church for France’s troubles. No trick is too mean to further this end. The distribution of ration cards is arranged for Sunday mornings when everybody would normally be at Mass. Those who do not come until later get no cards. Near Dieuze the police on one such occasion tried to prevent a funeral procession from entering a church by locking the door and saying that burials should take place without any religious service. Peasants in the procession refused to argue. They calmly went home, returned with their axes, and smashed in the church door. At Chateau Salins the Gestapo again tried to abolish services by locking the church. The officiating priest refused to be intimidated. He entered by a side door, forced the main entrance. rang church bells and began his sermon before a huge congregation by saying, “This is my church, and after God and my bishop I am master here.” He spoke in French, which is strictly forbidden by the German authorities. So popular is this priest that the Gestapo are unwilling to arrest him. They are desperately afraid of creating too many martyrs. ■ „