VATICAN AND NAZIS

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18332, 26 February 1934, Page 9

VATICAN AND NAZIS

POINTS OF DIFFERENCE AFFAIRS OF THE CHURCH j LONDON. Feb. Id. The fact that the Homan newspapers in Germany have been compclied - y the Nazi administration to * publish sterilisation propaganda, and that young Catholics in youth -orgawsa- - tions have been forced to attend ••jutw* denomjnational services, which atlioue- 7 ism forbids, is causing the \ air.an con- - eern. Although the Pope declares that he is still optimistic that the differences will be settled, iie admits openly - that « the Church is experiencing a most di.fi .* cult time, says the Home correspondent f of the Times. : ' 1 A- *- One of the greatest <r*iov;t rices is fcho Reich's failure to accept or modify file f Vatican js fist of recognised Catholic organisations, winch was an important * point, of Lin concordat. There is Iso F a wide divergence of view on matters..of doctrine and law on which the Church d« is not prepared to consent or remain 7 silent. The Vatican holds that liie coil- i cordut. in preventing priests from joining political parties, does not imply limita- , tion on their explanation of the Church's dosrmatical and moral doctrines, which is believed to have been responsible for y frequent arrests. Herr Hitler has dismissed Catliolic ~ teachers belonging to the Centre Party, 7 \nri hbs snl-sfit-ded Nazis, to whose organisation Catholics previously had not been allowed to belong. 'lhe result las 7 been that Catholic remnrennnts era not <* heing sufficiently understood, aud this has led to severe' restrictions. 1

Another complaint is that members .of youth organisations are not- allowed* sufficient time for religious duties. It is believed that Herr Hitler dpep not wish to destroy the concordat, which he regards as 011 c of his successes, bin that his colleagues are working against it.

There is also fundamental oSiiftiet upon racial distinctions, and the Vatican is bitterly opposed to the Nazi rejection of the Old Testament and modification of the New Testament—points upon which flic Pope will not yield an inch.