Catholic Youth Must Be Defended
Hitler's Memory Jogged About Article 23
From Our German Correspondent The extraordinary gathering of the German Hierarchy, which we announced some time ago, has taken place at Fulda, and lasted three days. Cardinal Bertram, Archbishop of Breslau, was in the chair; Cardinal Faulhaber, Archbishop of Munich, and Cardinal Schulte, Archbishop of Cologne, supported him. All twenty-six German bishops were present, with the exception of the Bishops of Aix-la-Chapelle and Mayenee, who were represented by an auxiliary bishop and a vicar-general respectively.
The systematic campaign against the Catholic schools, and the new situation created by the decree of December 1, making membership in the Hitler Youth compulsory for all boys and girls, were the main points on the agenda. The Church, it was said, has made a certain number of concessions to the Ilitlerite state on minor paints, but in the school and the youth question vital interests are at stake, and any weakness may prove fatal. What is now to become of those Catholic Youth associations for which the Church has made special (and successful) efforts to guarantee in the Concordat and to the leaders of which the Holy Father himself said: "Your cause is Our cause"? Is the influence of the Church to be wholly excluded front the education of German youth?
Mgr. von Galen, Bishop of Munster in Westphalia, one of the youngest and most courageous bishops, was the rapporteur of the 'conference.