The Irish standard., 1919-02-22
Church and State
Today in Prussia
By Harold D. Wilson.
Ry C.. p A.

BY G.. P. A.
Amidst the struggle between con-
tending elements in Germany there
goes on q conflict of very great inn
portance to the Catholic Church. Adolf
Hoffman, a Free-thinker who holds the
portfolio of Prussian Minister Of Wor.
ship, recently announced that he in
tended to separate Church and State
Won Hartmann, Archbishop of Cologne,
protested in the name of the Hier-
archy. The strong feeling to which
the announcement gave rise caused
some uneasiness in ministerial circles,
and a colleague of his named Hanisch
; declared that it was ridiculous to
think such a serious matter would
be dealt with by decree.
1t became evident, however, that no
change has taken place in Hoffmann's
intentions. He has begun his cam
paign against the Church with at
tempts to Danish religion from the
schools. Local school inspection has
been taken out of the hands of the
clergy. Against this step also Cardinal
Won Hartmann has sent protest on
behalf Of the Bishops to Berlin. But
Hoffman, has not abandoned his plan
for excluding religion from the schools.
The "Germania" says that the follow
ing are points in his program: 1. In
all schools prayer is not to be offered
up during the times for instruction.
HencefOrth there is to be no prayer
! in the denominational Peoples schools.
2. 1t must not be made the duty of
school children to attend religious
services or visit religious institutions.
They are to celebrate no more relig-
ious services together. 3. No more
examinations are to be held as to re-
ligious knowledge. 4. No teacher is
to be compelled to give religious in
struction or to cake part in making or
carrying out church arrangements. s.
In the cases of children under four
teen years Of age, the parents or guar.
dians must decide whether they are
to receive religious instruction. Those
over fourteen must observe the gen.
eral regulations. 6. Home lessons on
the religious instruction to be i'm
parted in schools is not permitted.
The unfolding Of this policy is, of
course, looked upon by the Catholics
as declaration of war against Chris
tianity. IL the plan were carried out
1t would undoubtedly inflict the grav.
est injury on religious interests. In
the Prussian Budget this year the
amount set apart for "the BishOpries
and the institutions belonging to them
was two million, nineteen thousand,
seven hundred and twenty-five marks.
This includes the sums given for the
seminaries and the Cathedral chapters
and for payment of the services of
many officials. Not only the Catholics
but also the protestants are indignant
at the audacity Of the Berlin Free
thinker. That the proposals have pro.
duced much antipathy to Berlin rule
is quite clear. The Centre Party has
proclaimed its determination to resist
these attacks on religion with all its
might. In this attitude they have the
solid support of the Catholic congre.
cations and of great many Protest.
ants. In Cologne, on the evening be.
fore the entry of the troops of the AL
lies, meeting which was attended by
over 5000 persons, was held under the
auspices Of the Centre Party and de-
clared for the setting up of the Rhine
land and Westphalia as new German
state. The Catholics of those regions
do not want to cut themselves off
from Germany, but they are convinced
that good government cannot be ex
pected from Berlin.
Herr Trimborn, a member of the