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Government and Church Battle in Slovakia over Baptizing Jews

April 21, 1942
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A fierce battle is now developing in Slovakia between the Catholic Church and the Slovakian authorities over the question of whether the church has a right to baptize Jews since this saves them from falling under the anti-Jewish regulations, especially from deportation to Nazi-occupied Eastern territory.

The “Catolicke,” organ of the Catholic church is Slovakia, reaching here today, carries a violent protest against the continuous public attacks which Sano Mach, the Slovakian pro-Nazi Minister of Interior has been making against Catholic priests, accusing them of undermining the anti-Jewish measures of the Slovak government by large scale baptizements of Jews. The organ of the Catholic church denies that mass preparations of Jews for baptism are being carried on by the church.

At the same time the “Catolicke” severely criticizes the Slovak government for the new measures taken against baptism of Jews in the country. “The Catholic Church does not exclude anybody who wishes to become a Catholic,” the paper writes.

A resolution condemning the inhuman treatment of Jews by the Slovakian government was adopted here today at a meeting of the Federation of Czechoslovak Jews in England.

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