Evening star., 1933-07-01
CATHOLIC GROUPS
RA|DED AS HITLER
TURNS FROM FAITH
Chancellor Will Join New
German Evangelical
Church Shortly.
BY the Associated Press.

By the Associated Press.
BERLIN, July 1-Police closed all
business Offices today of Prussian Cath
olic societies, which generally are re-
garded as political organizations, and
seized the contents
1t was officially explained that these
societies are not forbidden, nor are
charitable or social centers to be
touched. but only those which use
Catholicism to cloak political activities
Meanwhile, Rev. Ludwig Mueller said
today that Chancellor Adolf Hitler will
join the new National Evangelical
Church OF Germany ard waive his
Catholic faith as soon as Mr. Mueller S
work of recognizing German Protest
antism has been completed.
Answer Given Faction.
He made this announcement to a
group Of three pastors of the Bodel-
schwingh faction who appealed to him
to rescind his order that Thanksgiving
services be held in the churches to-
iHOlIOW, Will tiiC uAoPAoy VI A>oIA oilu
state flags.
Rev. Frederick Won Bodelschwingh
recently was elected bishop of the Reich
by church groups, winning out over Mr..
Mueller, the Nazi candidate, who sub
sequently was designated to reorganize
the Protestant faith.
Mr. Mueller asserted that Chancellor
Hitler will urge German Catholics to
Join the new church.
This announcement was made after
the venerable President of the Reich,
Paul Won Hindenburg, himself strong
Evangelical churchman, called upon
the chancellor to compose the differ
ences between the government and the
Evangelical churches.
May Dramatize Change.
Protestant church circles generally
believe that the chancellor's change OF
faith will come as a dramatic feature
tin Luther's 415th birthday anniversary
October 10, when, according to the pro-
paganda ministry, the Reformation is to
be celebrated in a manner never before
seen by the world.
It was learned on reliable authority
that last Summer Hitler suggested to
Mr.. Mueller that he join the Protes-
tant faith, but the Nazi churchman
advised against it on the ground that
so long as Protestantism was not united
under cne head he might cause offense
by joining one church in preference
to others.
The chancellor caused somewhat Of
a sensation when, although still des-
cribing himself in the Reichstag hand
book as Catholic, he attended a
state funeral of storm-troopers and
police at a Protestant cathedral Feb
ruary 5.
He also failed to attend Catholic
services on the day of potsdam" March
81 when members of the cabinet and
CT the Reichstag and President Won
Hindenburg went to either Protestant
or Catholic services before the open
ing of the Reichstag. Instead, the
graves of storm troopers.
Hindenburg's Call.
President Won Hindenburg's call for
action by the chancellor to compose
the conflict between the government
and the Evangelical churches was set
forth in a letter in which he asserted
the Evangelical Christians are PRO
foudly anxious concerning the church's
inner liberty" and asked the Na1
chieftain to find a way to restore
peace"
Wilhelm Prick, Nazi minister of the
interior was ordered by Hitler to open
negotiations Immediately after the
reichsbishop had appealed to Mr..
Mueller to rescind orders that Nazi
flags be displayed.
The reichsbishop said the Nal orders
which also required Evangelical pas
tors and elders to conduct thanksgiving
services Sunday, thereby countermand-
ing the Protestants' plans to observe
tomorrow as day of prayer fer religi-
GUS freedom, caused "a serious con-
f1ict of conscience for many pastors" !"