Evening star., 1943-01-23


church-usually touched upon in
pastoral letters of German religious
leaders-but devoted himself entire
ly to condemning Naziism.
Denouncing Nazi theories of JUS
tice, racism. nationalism and statism,
and Nazi practices of euthanasia
and killing of hostages, the German
prelate defined the issue as one in
volving God-given conceptions of
justice and right, and human con-
ceptions OF arbitrary justice which
have an essentially atheistic basis,
The struggle between divine and
atheistic ethics was the keystone of
Bishop Won Preysing's message. He
stated, in effect. that the Nazis, in
reversing the moral, ethical and re-
ligious structure of civilization, were
fighting against God
The Bishop called upon Germans
not to revolt against God by accept
ing the Nazi philosophy. Twice in
the pastoral letter he told Germans:
Change your mode of thinking"
Three times the church leader
warned against violating the rights
of aliens" This may refer to the
treatment Of Poles and other for
eigners doing forced labor in Ger
many, or it may be an attack upon
Nazi policy in the occupied coun-
tries.
Bishop Won Preysing's letter is, in
fact, one of the strongest all-out at
tacks against the Nazis SO far issued
by German church leader. 1t un-
doubtedly reflects the attitude of
the German Catholic hierarchy,
since the Berlin churchman is the
new presiding head of the German
bishops conference of Fulda.
BY a coincidence, his message was
made public a few days after the
Archbishop of Canterbury had criti-
ct5ed the apparent failure of Ger
man Christians to condemn Nazi
crimes" such as the persecution
of the Jews and the Poles.
In an address at the German Lu-
theran Church commemorating the
birthday of Pastor Martin Niemol-
Ter. imprisoned German Evangelical
leader, the archbishop praised Cath
olic and Protestant leaders for their
outspoken condemnation of Nazi
attempts to circumscribe religious
freedom in the Reich, but added
that such protests were made in
self defense" rather than "on be-
half of outraged justice and
brotherly love-"
Meanwhile. another important
church document was made public
this week. 1t was new years mes |
sage from the Provisional Church
Council of Norway, which reviewed
the suffering and hardship forced on
the church during the past year by |
the occupying authorities. The |
message, which was read in churches |
throughout Norway last Sunday, |
pledged that loyal Norwegian church
leaders would continue their fight |
against the Nazis, and concluded
with a plea to churchgoers to
stand firm"
Japanese Intern Missionaries.
In a move toward the liquidation /
Of foreign missionary enterprises in
occupied countries of the Far East. |
the japanese are now arresting and |
interning German missionaries, ac-
cording to reports which reached |
Stockholm religious sources this
week
This news, which is regarded as
quite plausible by missionary experts
here, indicates that the japanese are
determined to destroy all western
religious influence in the occupied
areas, and are making no exceptions
1t is not likely that the internment |
of Germans will cause much concern |
to Nazi leaders, who, like the Japa- |
nese, do not trust churchmen.
The January issue of the Interna- !
tional Review of Missions summar-
ICES the fate of missions in the Far
East as follows: The great ma ajority
Of the foreign missionaries in the
occupied areas, as well as in Japan
itself, have had to leave their posts. |
Many of the small number who re-
main are under arrest. The extern
sive educational work of colleges and
schools, much OF 1t of high quality,