Nazi Leaders and the Churches The relations between the German
Protestant Church and the Nazi Government have entered an interesting phase. Herr Kern, the new Minister for Ecclesiastical Affairs, appears to be genuinely endeavouring to reach some acceptable compromise, but he is forced by his position to insist on linking service of the National Socialist State with the service of God to an extent which the more vigorous at least of the Church leaders cannot tolerate. And where Herr Kern proposes other people are apt to dispose. The Reich Press Chamber, for example, has just fanned the flame of hostility between Church and State by subjecting all Church papers to censorship. On the other hand, the imprisoned, pastors in Saxony have at last been released, and at the same time General Goering has made a remarkable and unexpected attack on Dr. Rosenberg's new paganism, deriding " romantic dreams of Thor and Odin," and declaring it essential that the regeneration of Germany should be based on " a deep belief in Almighty , God:" It seems on the whole unlikely. that the demands of the State can be reconciled with the convictions of the Church. The struggle in that case continue, and may be accentuated, for the Government, having tried what it regards as conciliation in vain, may revert to repression. It must be remembered that owing to the restrictions on the Press the German public knows, and therefore cares, less about the conflict than might be supposed.
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