THE AUSTRIAN BISHOPS TRIED TO COLLABORATE "

But Nazi Methods Made This Impossible
Cardinal Innitzer Warns His People
NEW ANTI-CATHOLIC MEASURES EXPECTED
Burckel's Aim : " An Austria Without Monasteries"
A dignified reply has been made by Cardinal Innitzer, Archbishop of Vienna, to the attack made on him by Herr Burckel, Nazi leader in Vienna, reported last week in the Catholic Herald.
Main points in his reply were :— I. Austrian Bishops tried to collaborate with the Nazi regime, but later measures rendered this impossible.
2. In his sermon in SL Stephen's Cathedral he did not attack Hitler, the State, or the Party.
3. He never said "I have decided to fight and am ready to lead."
4. Catholics must defend the rights of God and the Church besides fulfilling their duty to the State.
This reply was read in all the At Salzburg, Nazis, demon churches in Vienna last Sunday. strating outside the Palace of the By request, no demonstrations of aged Archbishop, Mgr. Waitz, loyalty were made by the have demanded his expulsion.
Catholics. In the same town a large Meanwhile, Herr Burckel is Franciscan monastery has been expected to outline new measures confiscated by the Nazis.
of expropriation of Church proHerr Burckel's eventual aim is perty in a speech to be made at reported to be an " Austria Salzburg on Saturday. without monasteries."
PREPARING FOR THE WORST
Cardinal Innitzer, Archbishop of Vienna, replied in a letter, read from the pulpits of all the churches in Vienna last Sunday, to the Nazi attacks on him, particularly that of Herr Burckel, Nazi leader in Vienna, reported in the Caittouc Hemp last week.
" I Hereby Declare " His statement was as follows: " The German News Agency published yesterday a demand that I should state my position to the Catholic people. I hereby declare:
" (1) The well-known declarations of the Bishops of Austria of March 18 were made with the best intentions in order to come to a peaceful understanding with the present ruling authorities of the country. The course of events brought unfortunate measures which the Catholic people were forced to accept, as already recalled in the pastoral letter of the Austrian Bishops of September 4,
"1 Did Not Attack Him"
" (2) Not with a single word did I attack the FiIhrer in my sermon to the Catholic Youth in the Cathedral on October 7, nor did I instigate hatred of him, the State, or party. The demonstration of young people after the religious service was neither foreseen nor designed. It is also untrue that the Catholic Youth took this opportunity to sing political songs.
They put into my mouth the words I have decided to fight and am ready to lead' I did not say this at the Bishops' conference, nor to any assembly of priests.
" (4) The prohibition to priests to take part in the Workers' Organisation for Religious Peace ' was not issued by me alone, but resulted from a unanimous decision of the Bishops' conference, taken not for political reasons but for reasons of Church discipline.
"(5) I have never failed to appreciate the historic importance of the hour when my homeland [the Sudetenland] returned to the great German latherland, Together with other German Cardinals I gave thanks to the Fiihrer and proclaimed thanks for the whole Ostmark, and ordered the ringing of bells. I defend myself against the offensive reproach that I have set myself up in deliberate contest to the Ftihrer and people." (3) A Request
Before this message was read young Catholics went front pew to pew asking the congregation not to make any demonstration which would give the Nazis another excuse for attacking the Church.
Meanwhile the Nazis are actively pursuing their anti-Catholic campaign. Certain lay religious organisations of doubtful loyalty have apparently been persuaded to disavow Cardinal Innitzer and demand his expulsion. Viennese newspapers are filled with unsigned letters reported to have been written by Catholic priests attacking the Cardinal and even the Church itself.
Protestants Attack, Too
The Lutheran and the Reformed Protestant Churches have joined the outcry and are demanding the annihilation of " political " Catholicism which, they say, has again shown its head during the last few weeks.
Priests in Mufti
That Cardinal Innitzer is preparing for the worst is indicated by the fact that he has told all the priests in the archdiocese that they must equip themselves with ordinary lay clothes.
If priests in Vienna go into mufti they may be able to avoid the insults and attacks to which They arc frequently subjected in the streets.
Church Property Taken
The expropriation of Church property is
going forward steadily. Herr Burckel is expected to announce new measures in a speech at Salzburg on Saturday. It is in
Salzburg that a great Franciscan monastery has been confiscated this week. Some of the monks are in gaol on the charge of throwing furniture out of the windows and pretending that the Nazis had done it.
In Prison
It is estimated that about 100 priests are now in prison. Six priests were lately arrested in Vienna. This arrest caused a demonstration by Catholics shouting to the priests, " We will not desert you."
On the other hand, as is but humanly natural, many " tepid " Catholics have given up practising their religion while others have openly disavowed their faith.
" Black Dog Must Go " The Osservalore Romano emphasises Herr Burckel's reported statement that his object is to present Hitler with "an Austria without monasteries."
This week demonstrations have been made outside the Palace of Mgr. Waitz, Archbishop of Salzburg. The crowd yelled: " This black dog must get out."