Evening star., 1950-12-25
spiritual Solidarity
Held Needed 10 Face
Communist Advance
BY GouIt MacGowon
North American Newspaper Allionce

| EScfIh AHtefteoH tNeWsPdPeI RliidnC0
FRANKFURT, Dec. 25.-Spir-
itual solidarity from Rome to Ber-
lin is urgently needed to with
stand the westward march of
atheistic Communism, according
to a religious survey made in this
season of good will and peace on
earth.
With thousands of pilgrims con-
verged on Rome for the conclud-
| ing ceremonies of Holy Year, and
Germany ablaze with gaily lit
Christmas trees and illuminated
streets, Christendom's European
axis never looked stronger.
But in the camps of st. Peter
and Martin Luther, there were
vast circles of confusion. The
German picture was this: A ''Kul-
tur Kampf" was in progress
Roosevelt's first freedom was the
stake.
The Communist line was clear:
To prate peace on earth-and de-
stroy all churches devoted to the
! Christian "Weltanschauung'; en-
slave them professionally as tools of
Marxist-C Communist theology.
Pattern Is Set.
The Protestant bishop of Berlin,
DR.. Dibelius, was trying to pro-
mote peace On earth amid a vio-
lent attack on his synodical Or
ganization by the Soviet-sponsored
East German state. The Reds
seek to get his synod headquarters
moved from the safety of West
Berlin into the Red zone.
Pastor Niemoeller, president of
the Hessian Lutheran Church,
was at uneasy peace with his
synod because of his recent po-
litical utterances. Lutherans who
want to continue to wage doc
! trinal war with Rome are quar-
reling with those who want to
unite with Catholics to resist the
march of Communism. Pastor
Niemoeller is said to have de-
clared his readiness to move over
to a parish in the Soviet Zone.
The Catholics are having trou-
bleS of their oWn-and not only
behind the Iron Curtain. Five
and half million more Cath
olics have surged into Germany
since the war as a result of popu-
lation Shuff1es. Forty-seven per
cent of the West German repub-
| lie is now estimated to be Roman
Catholic by the international Bu-
reau of Documentation.
One Priest Per 1000.
This Christmas, there is only
one priest per 1000 Catholics
available for the traditional cere-
monies in the % dioceses with
their 30 million worshippers at the
cribs.
Numerous priests and religious
scholars and workers sent to con-
centration camps under Hitler did
not return: many others we're
killed in the war; for 10 years
ordinations. virtually ceased.
The refugee Catholics have up
set the traditional religious pat
terms Of Germany. They count
$3.50 with the rest in manv for
mer Protestant strongholds. There
are too few churches and schools
for them.
According to DR.. LortZ, pro-
fessor of religious, history at
Mainz University: There is to-
day no longer a Catholic West
nor a Protestant East Germany.
but one great shapeless mass of
peoples that threatens to decom-
pose ALL"
/ The Schumacher Socialists re-
gard the alliance of Christian
Democrats and Christian Social
lists behind Chancellor Konrad
Adenauer as a menace. They are
exploiting his party losses at the
recent elections to further their
policy of neutrality in the struggle
between East and West.
Good will this Christmas is in
Il the hands Of the little man