Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-01-14
Plea to German Bishops
Archbishop's House. Malines,
January %, 1917.


January %, 1917.
Most Eminent Lords.
I pray God to enghten your Eminences
that YOU may recognize the spirit OF charity in which
this letter is written and be inspired to read it in
the same light. I cannot forget that my previous
correspondence was received by you with undeserved
distrust, hut that have to deal with interests
exclusively religious, my Christian confidence
triumphs my fears.
Your Eminences aware that there are some
thousands of military and civil Belgians-we do not
know the exact number-conhned in the German
prisons. Information reaches from time to
time bringing the sad news that considerable num-
ber of them have gradually abandoned their religious
practices One of the reasons for this progressive
Indifference is the antipathy inspired in them by
chsplains whose language is a constant reminder
of a begerent nation and a sorrowfu past 1t
avas little to say that the chaplains charitable
and the prisoners in the wrong. l refrain from
passing judgment this fact, but none the less
it is fact which we, shepherds of souls, cannot
but bitterly deplore. Up to quite recently the
military authorities have refused even to those
condemned to death a priest of their nationality
and speaking their own language. l know of moth
ing more deporable than this. 1t cannot be denied
that faith must be raised to the level of heroism
if the prisoners are to be inspired with fial con-
fdence in a priest who, from the human point of
view appears to them in the light of envoy
from enemy power.
The oft-repeated petitions of the Belgian
episcopate to which l assured the German
bishops nave been good enough 10 lenu support,
even the august intervention of his Holiness him
self, have not yet succeeded in bringing about any
improvement in this state of things
Now the occupying power has deported and
continues to deport thousands of civilians, Femngs
and Waoons, and sends them we know not where
into camps and factories, compelling them to work
to the advantage of the enemy. These wretched
men suffer from hunger and cold; many of them
spat upon and beaten because they refuse to
work voluntarily" 1t is easier for you than it
=. atF,1aT haN
it brought to an end. We tremble, and the mothers
of families trembe, at the thought of the danger
to which the faith and the morals of these poor,
forsaken exposed. They feel isolated,
without home life, far from the sacraments and
out of contact with their parochia Belgian clergy.
/ am loath to believe that your Emnences feel
no sympathy with in our anxiety and that you
will hold your powerful support from US now.
If the German Empire will not grant the
repatriation OF tellow-ctizens, whom, con-
trary to all truth, it styles unemployed, burden
on public funds, obtain for u.s. ! entreat you per-
mission to send them priests to protect their
morals and safeguard their faith. These priests
are ready to endure every sacrifice. They Will
agree not to return to Belgium save with those to
whom they earnestly desire to devote themselves.
l intrust with all confidence my petition to your
apostolic hearts, which petition is joint one from
the Belgian clergy and episcopate, the mothers,
wives and children of our Christian families.
Receive, my Lord Cardinals, the assurance of
my respectful and religiously devoted sentiments.
(Signed) D. J. CARDINAL MERCER,
Archbishop of Malines.
The Cardinal Archbishop of Cologne and othe
German bishops made pressing and repeated attempts
but without success to obtain from the mitar
authorities permission for the Belgian priests t
accompany. those deported.
America Joins Protests
The United States protested against the transfe
of Belgian workmen to Germany The Imperia
Government answered that it would only deport tn
tofn half, ON
seouently persons occupying independent position
and men actually in work would be exempt from
deportation.
On the other hand in reply to note from tn
Netherlands Government the German Government
declared that it would not deport Belgians who ha
taken refuge in Holland in October 1914, and ha
entered Belgium on the distinct understanding tina
they would not be molested Being poTerlfss TO pu