CZECH GOVERNMENT TO IMPOSE CONTROLS OVER ALL CHURCHES

Otago Daily Times, Issue 27213, 17 October 1949, Page 5

CZECH GOVERNMENT TO IMPOSE CONTROLS OVER ALL CHURCHES

LONDON, Oct. 14. The Associated Press Prague correspondent says a unanimous show of hands in the Communist-dominated Czech Parliament to-day adopted two Bills designed to impose strong State control over all churches, especially the dominant Roman Catholic Church. The measures were: (1) A Church Control Bill which would make all clergymen and bishops civil servants paid by the State, ana grant the Government full control over all church appointments, finances, and administrative affairs. (2) A Bill for the establishment of a new Cabinet ■ Ministry to supervise church affairs. Both laws become effective on November 1.

The parliamentary vote was preceded by two hours of speeches strongly attacking the Vatican and the Roman Catholic Hierarchy headed by Archbishop Josef Beran, of Prague. The attack was led by the Communist Minister of Justice, Mr Alexei Cepicka, and the Minister of Health, the Rev. Father Josef Plojhar, a suspended priest. Mr Cepioks * t -- Roman Catholic bishops wsre tools of the political policy of the Vatican. . e claimed that only 10 Der cent, o* the clergy opposed the Bill. “Archbishop Beran is seeking martydom by remaining in bis palace. He wants to become a cardinal.”

A message from Prague says the official Czech news agency said tonight that the State organisations were crushing the network of “ agents of foreign enemies.” The statement is believed to be an indirect reference to the 10-day wave of arrests throughout Czchoslovakia, during which more than 40,000 people are reported to have been taken into custody. , ’