The Grey Book: A collection of protests against anti-semitism and the persecution of Jews issued by non-Roman Catholic churches and church leaders during Hitlers ruleSnoek, Johan M.
Religion
The Grey Book: A collection of protests against anti-semitism and the persecution of Jews issued by non-Roman Catholic churches and church leaders during Hitlers rule
Snoek, Johan M.
Antisemitism; Christianity and other religions -- Judaism; Judaism -- Relations -- Christianity; Protestant churches -- Europe
Supreme Court Justice Dr. M. Wolff, who in his
capacity as President of the Synod conveyed the greetings of the Church
of Zurich, declared:
"Switzerland is in extremely danger. One speaks of a new order in Europe,
but this order is characterised by attacks on other nations; by the murdering
of hostages and the persecution of Jews. This new order means a denial of
the Christian faith...
The best contribution the Church of Switzerland can render to-day is, to be
a true Church, faithfully proclaiming the word of God. Its freedom to preach
must therefore be preserved unrestrictedly. We shall be grateful for a State
Church, so long as the State recognizes the Church's right to exercise its
function as Watchman. Zwingli has unequivocally insisted on this.
Unfortunately, the Church's function as Watchman is now being threatened
by press censorship. The State must not demand that the Church should
refrain from clearly distinguishing between right and wrong. The Church
must now fight for its right to raise its voice against the rejection of
poor refugees; in a clear "Yes" to Jesus Christ, and in a clear "No" to
the dark powers of this world." [462]
On October 28, 1942, Dr. Wollf said in his Opening Address to the Synod of
Zurich:
"... It is therefore not surprising that, when a clearer profession resulted
through the awakening of the Church in recent years, its freedom of speech
was often denied by political coercion, and the Church was told that it had
no right to interfere in Government matters.
...
The Gospel knows nothing about neutrality of opinion and nothing of a policy
of false silence, advocated currently by higher circles." [463]
b. Anti-Semitism within and outside Switzerland
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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