Bishop regrets attack on Brandt

Augsburg:
BISHOP Joseph Stimpfle of Augsburg has publicly, apologised for an article in his diocesan newspaper which attacked Chancellor Willy Brandt—including a charge that Herr Brandt stabbed a man to death nearly 40 years ago.
The article, which appeared shortly before Herr Brandt's Social Democrats were returned to power, was based on information supplied by an exGestapo member and convicted war criminal.
The source of the charges in the article was 78-year-old August Naujock. He said that in 1933, in his home town of Luebeck, Herr Brandt — then known as Herbert Frahm— fatally stabbed a man in the back. Naujock also claimed that one of Herr Brandt's top aides committed murder with a "secret death ray."
NOT SEEN
In his apology, Bishop Stimpile said he had not seen the article before it appeared. But he added: "In view of the West German Constitution and freedom of the press, I do not practise censorship in the church newspaper of the diocese."
The bishop also pointed out that Herr Brandt's Social Democrats had conducted a survey which sought to determine the political views of the clergy, and intended to use the information in the election campaign.
Protest at Mass
Zaragoza: A group of worker priests broke up a Mass celebrating the 25th anniversary of a local firm on Saturday in protest against recent labour problems in the company, including the sacking of a worker priest.
As Mass began the group of 15 marched to the altar and one read out a protest which described the Mass as a "profanation of Christianity."