Action on behalf of converts by country Conversion of Jews to Catholicism during the Holocaust

1 action on behalf of converts country

1.1 in croatia
1.2 in france
1.3 in germany
1.4 in hungary
1.5 in italy
1.6 in romania
1.7 in slovakia

action on behalf of converts country

according holocaust historian michael marrus, while church came defense of persecuted converted jews, or non-aryan catholics called, seeing state action against them violation of agreements assigned church right determine , not catholic, church less solicitous of jews remained jewish .

in croatia

similarly, in 1943 cardinal maglione instructed aloysius stepinac, primate of croatia, save many jews—mostly converts—as possible during upcoming nazi roundup . according morley, there underriding current in of marcone s efforts appears limit interests , activities jews had been baptized catholic or married catholics not harmed .

in france

one of main protests of nuncio valerio valeri against vichy racial legislation there no provision conversion christianity written law. morley notes effect on converts sole basis vatican protests: governmental attitude did not recognize rights of church source of complaint vatican. there no basis suggesting of other provisions gave occasion complaint .

according morley, valeri had no particular competence comment on laws or treatment accorded jews, unless baptized catholics. moreover, there no concordat between france , vatican spelling out duties , rights of each. unlike romania, example, there no large-scale conversions of jews. thus, there no potential source of conflict government on rights of baptized jews, or legal justification such vatican intervention .

in germany

the vatican s objections nuremberg laws of 1941 limited effects on converts judaism, particularly respect right marry aryan catholics. according morley, expected , paralleled elsewhere, orsenigo s communications maglione concerning jews dealt had been baptized catholic . orsenigo indicated interest in (unrealized) plans send emigrate baptized jews, particularly colony in ethiopia. other documents testify orsenigo s efforts emigrate baptized jews, there no evidence outcome of these efforts.

in hungary

angelo rotta, pius xii s nuncio hungary, regarded righteous among nations, telegraphed cardinal secretary of state maglione inform him of actions save jews, particularly had converted catholicism. nuncio rotta handed out letters of protection many jews during holocaust, although majority of them went converts catholicism. hungarian catholic church throughout 1930s , 1940s supported efforts purge jewish influence, exception of weak protests against inclusion of jewish converts in increasingly severe anti-jewish measures . according roth , ritner, apart converts christianity, [cardinal , primate of hungary justinian seredi had no interest in fate of jews .

in italy

the vatican s protest against italian racial legislation there no recognition of rights of baptized jews, whom vatican considered catholics . protests of racial laws primary focus of vatican s activity related jews. according morley, there no evidence officials of secretariat of state concerned restrictions placed upon jews. ongoing complaint laws did not recognize changed status of jews converted catholicism .

of refugees housed in vatican during roman razzia, cited defenders of pius xii, non-jews or converts. among non-christian refugees saved vatican israel zolli, chief rabbi in rome @ time. in 1945, zolli converted catholicism , chose christened eugenio maria in homage pope pius xii, born eugenio maria giuseppe giovanni pacelli.

in romania

nuncio bucharest andrea cassulo s efforts on behalf of jews concerned exclusively had been baptized catholic . passed on vatican in 1939, did not pursue, project emigrate 150,000 converted jews of romania spain. 1940 1941, primary diplomatic responsibility protest various pieces of legislation insofar infringed on rights of baptized jews, particularly respect intermarriage , attendance of baptized jews catholic schools, protected romanian concordat.

cassulo made 3 protests ion antonescu: on november 20, 1940, december 2, 1940, , february 14, 1941. 5 days after last protest, antonescu informed nuncio of signing decree allowing students of ethnic origin attend own religious schools.

however, more worrisome vatican march 18, 1941, decree forbidding conversion of jews christianity, severe penalties jews attempting convert , cooperating priests. again, cassulo protested violated concordat, romanian government replied decree did not because affect civil status of baptized jews. bypassing blatant racism of reply, maglione s sole interest rights of concordat extended baptized jews. vatican considered matter settled after july 21, 1941, note minister of foreign affairs granted enumerated demands of maglione: free profession of catholic faith, admission catholic schools, religious instruction, , spiritual assistance in various areas of society .

the romanian racial laws prompted unprecedented interest in conversion catholicism romania s jews, causing vatican issue directive priests directing them diligent in judgement of prospective converts . profession not automatically accepted, rather six-month period of instruction , preparation, conduct, interest, , desire reform lives according catholic principles observed. if after this, there doubts motivation, baptism postponed .

it became obvious cassulo motivations of converts not solely religious, , wrote rome: clear human motives cannot denied, likewise true providence uses human means arrive @ salvation . nationwide statistics on jewish baptisms unclear, rose level government became concerned. in bessarabia, 20% of jewish population, 40,000 jews, baptized in hope of escaping deportation. @ request of romanian minister, daniel papp, stricter instructions sent cassulo, recommending further discretion in baptizing jews.

in july 1942, archdiocese of bucharest refused hand on baptismal registers ministry of religion, although did allow them have list of names of baptized. december 1943 vatican believed had resolved issues romanian government on rights of converted jews. according morley, although cassulo possibly active of vatican diplomats in matters concerning jews , protests limited violations of concordat, , rights of converted jews. morley judges him sincere in belief god s plan holocaust increase number of converts. overall, cassulo reluctant intervene, except baptized jews . morley argues jewish contemporaries might have exaggerated, in years of crisis, influence , efforts on behalf based on difference between jewish sources , adss (cassulo recognized righteous among nations).

in slovakia

the new slovak government under president tiso, catholic priest, passed anti-jewish legislation on april 18, 1939, defining converts baptized after october 30, 1918, jews. in romania, of particular concern vatican diplomat provisions pertaining catholic schools. lesser concern future matrimonial legislation. chargé d affaires burzio attempted find organization, particularly in america, aid in emigration of jewish catholics, lest share in fate of deportation. letter slovak bishops impending deportations limited concern catholic jews , asked not deported . letter assured slovak government these jews had been sincere in conversion , had made complete break jewish background .

morley notes in other countries, original slovak racial laws protested vatican, not because of deleterious effects upon jews, because infringed on rights of church. whenever racial regulations did not exempt baptized jews liabilities imposed upon jews, maglione , representatives felt justified in issuing protests . in particular, restrictions rights attend catholic schools , intermarry viewed restrictions on rights of church. maglione s letter of protest did not deal with, nor did intend to, injustices committed against jews. maglione made clear defending rights of catholics of jewish origin .