The demand that Catholics all over the world follow the Jewish example and start a world-wide boycott of German-made goods is voiced today in La Libre Belge, the leading Catholic daily of Belgium.
“A strong boycott of German goods by Catholics can greatly contribute to the termination of persecution of Catholics in Nazi Germany,” the paper states. It adds that the position of the Catholics in Germany is worse than that of the Jews there.
Leading Catholic circles in Belgium, it is common knowledge here, are making an effort to induce the Vatican to issue a proclamation urging the Catholics of the world to join the boycott which the Jews are now conducting against products made in Germany.
PACT WOULD AID JEWS
In certain Catholic circles here the belief exists that the situation of the Jews as well as of the Catholics in Germany would be considerably ameliorated if the Vatican agreed to join hands with Jewish organizations and sponsor the anti-Nazi boycott movement.
It is pointed out here that a united front of the Vatican and representatives of the Jewish religion was affected several years ago when the Vatican was interested in raising a world-wide protest against the persecution of religion in Soviet Russia. This united front contributed greatly to the fact that practice of religion is no longer considered a crime in Russia.
It is believed here, consequently, that collaborative effort on the part of Catholic and Jewish religious forces against Germany would produce a similar effect upon Nazi Germany and would force Hitler to soften his attitude towards the Catholics and the Jews in the Third Reich.
The recent renewed wave of repressions practiced against priests and nuns in Germany has aroused Catholic sentiment throughout the world.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
