“In the circular of the Deputy of the Führer Number 3/39, of 4
January 1939, it is expressly stated that teachers of religion
are not by any means to make their own choice of Biblical
material for religious instruction but are obliged to give
instruction on all the Biblical subjects. They are to abstain
from all reinterpreting, analyzing, or paraphrasing of this
directive; attempts of this sort have been made several times by
certain church groups.”
This is a reference to the so-called German Christians.
I then quote from Document 113-PS, document book of the Prosecution. It
is Directive Number 104/38, I quote:
“The neutrality of the Party with respect to the Church, which
has been emphasized from the beginning, demands that any
possible friction be avoided. Clergymen, as political leaders or
as leaders or section leaders in the Party and its affiliated
organizations, do not possess the required freedom of decision
in this dual obligation, as has been shown by experience;
moreover, there is the danger that owing to their church office
they will make use of the Movement for their purposes in the
church struggle. The Deputy of the Führer has therefore ordered:
“1. Clergymen holding positions in the Party are to be
immediately relieved of their Party functions.”
I then quote from Document 099-PS, in which Bormann, in a letter of 19
January 1940, addressed to the Reich Minister of Finance, criticizes the
low contributions of the Church toward the war. I quote from the second
paragraph:
“The assessment of so low a contribution has surprised me. I
gather from numerous reports that the political communities have
to raise so high a war contribution that the carrying out of
their own tasks, which are often very important, as for instance
their work in public welfare, is in jeopardy.”