High Catholic and Protestant clergymen, responsible governmental leaders and statesmen, and many organizations around the world counterattacked today on the anti-Semitism that has plagued the world since the Christmas Eve desecration of a synagogue in Cologne, Germany.
Observatore Romano and the Vatican Radio assailed anti-Semitism in sharpest tones over the weekend. “Anti-Semitism is both hatred and fear, ” stated the Catholic organs. “Both are irrational. Both, if collectively incited, are sinister manifestations in which the individual conscience is overcome by irresponsible pressures and collective folly. “
The Vatican organs warned “people, particularly certain young elements, against the resurgence of deplorable racist fire. “
The Rome Municipal Council adopted a resolution today expressing “solidarity with Jewish victims of racial persecution,” A Social Democratic member of Italy’s parliament. Deputy Flavio Orlandi, inquired of the Government as to whether it had taken steps against instigators of anti-Semitic attacks and whether it was trying to ascertain whether “a racist organization, with ramifications abroad was responsible for the outbreaks. “
In Norway, the Protestant bishops and the most important lay Christian organizations issued a statement condemning the “very serious and dangerous things” happening now and asserting that “all must be done to stop these demonstrations and eradicate these tendencies, “
Brazilian President Juscelino Kubitschek today visited the Rio de Janeiro home for aged Jewish victims of Nazism, which vandals had smeared with the swastika last week. Minister of Justice Armando Falcao assured a delegation of the Confederation of Brazilian Jewish Communities that the authorities would vigorously suppress anti-Jewish manifestations. Cardinal Don Jaime de Barros Camara, head of the Roman Catholic Church in Brazil, broadcast a sharp condemnation of the anti-Semitic manifestations.
Rio de Janeiro police established a 24-hour watch over the 36 Jewish institutions in the city. The Brazilian Students Union petitioned the Government to introduce special legislation barring anti-Semitism.
In Peru, newspapers expressed indignation today and condemned the revival of Nazi anti-Semitic manifestations throughout the world after the appearance here of the swastika smears. The swastika was daubed on Jewish buildings throughout the city this weekend and also on the Catholic Immaculada College.
In Santiago de Chile, Foreign Minister German Vergara said the Ministry of the Interior would apply strictly all laws “for the protection of internal security. ” The police authorities, he said, “must make it clear to all that Nazism is a philosophy of Dictatorship which we will not tolerate in Chile. “
In Mexico City, the Roman Catholic Archbishop condemned anti-Semitic vandalism, And said “the Church must fight with all its powers every expression of race hatred, “
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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.
