Part 29 (2/2)

The prayer of the merciful heart availeth much. Through it G.o.d's presence may become real in distant gas chambers; consolation and indestructible faith may s.h.i.+ne in their horror-stricken eyes and upon their deadly-pale faces.

Such prayer may also have the power to reawaken petrified consciences, and to paralyse the hands engaged in deadly tasks.

The prayer should be said in repentance over unbrotherly words also spoken in our country about Jews now and in the past...” [501]

32 SWEDEN

The political situation of Sweden was comparable to that of Switzerland: each country tried to preserve its neutrality, was afraid of a German attack, and sometimes gave in to German demands. Yet Sweden expressed its willingness to receive all the Jews from Denmark, whilst Switzerland closed its borders. We should, however, bear in mind that to Switzerland, owing to its geographical position, the challenge of the refugee problem was much greater than to Sweden.

The Swedish Church denounced the persecution of the Jews more sharply than did the Swiss Churches. Apparently Swedish Church leaders were not afraid of offending Germany. But in Sweden there was no press censors.h.i.+p, as was the case in Switzerland.

On November 29, 1942, Manfred Bjorkquist was consecrated first Bishop of Stockholm. Along with the Bishops of the Swedish Church, there were also present representatives of the Church of Denmark and the Church of Finland.

The Quisling Minister for Church Affairs in Norway sent an indignant letter to Archbishop Eidem, because he had not been invited to send a representative to the consecration. Dagens Nyheter, commenting on this report, wrote: <226>

”What happened in Norway recently is sufficient explanation, if it is confirmed that Sweden's Archbishop did not reply to the letter. Archbishop Eidem's warning at Lutzen on November 6th against national self-sufficiency and arrogance provides an adequate answer.

When now for the first time we see these things happening near at hand we are aghast at this self-sufficiency and arrogance; this complete contempt for human values.” [502]

The last sentence refers to the deportation of the Jews of Norway.

On the first Sunday in Advent, 1942, the following Proclamation was issued by the Swedish Bishops:

”Hatred blinds and hardens. Hatred leads to destruction. Hatred is the most frightful and monstrous of the dark powers which now are dominating an unhappy earth.

Jesus Christ condemns hatred in all its forms without exception. His words and deeds, His life and death, all mean an absolute judgment upon hatred.

Whatever stands in contradiction with the royal command of love, which is the sum of the will of G.o.d, is sin, sin against the living G.o.d.

Men may trample upon the commandments of the All-Highest. But G.o.d Almighty lives. And whoever turns away from Him has deserted the springs of life and is walking in the way of death.

If we really want to be Christians, we must in all seriousness take up the fight against hatred, against all hatred.

We must be strictest towards ourselves, so that we may not leave the smallest room in our heart for the evil spirit of hatred. So far as our voice reaches, we must, each in his own circle, stand up for love in word and deed, and fight hatred and the deeds of hatred.

With horror and dismay we have learned in the last two days how an un-Christian racial hatred, which has spread over many lands in the world like a mortal pestilence, has now expressed itself in shocking acts of violence in our immediate neighbourhood, on our Scandinavian peninsula.

Human beings are being subjected to the greatest sufferings, not because they have been legally convicted of misdeeds - they have not even been accused of such things by regular legal procedure - but solely because they belong by descent to a certain race. <227> We have been deeply moved to hear the courageous Christian admonitions which our oppressed Norwegian sister-Church has directed to those in power in their country, not to rebel against the clear Word of G.o.d by doing deeds of violence in blind racial hatred.

Everything that lies in our power to a.s.sist the poor people affected by this hatred is being done. That is our elementary duty as Christians and as human beings. But even if we cannot do much to help the unfortunate, we can and must bear them and their needs upon our hearts.

We Bishops of the Swedish Church call all our fellow-Christians in Sweden, in the Name of G.o.d, to include these our tortured brethren of the race of Israel in our faithful and constant intercessions, and to make daily prayers to our Father in Heaven for the many who are suffering violence and disaster at this time.” [503]

At a service of intercession in Goteborg Cathedral on the first Sunday in Advent, Dean Nysted said:

”Everything we have heard of the nameless sufferings of the Jewish people in past times dwindles to nothing in comparison with the fate that has overtaken them in recent years. We have read with disgust of the slave hunts of former times and the cargoes of slaves which were carried like cattle to America.

Who could have dreamt anything so frightful as that such a s.h.i.+p would sail along our coasts last week, laden with men, women and children, who have no other fate to expect than that of the slaves or cattle for slaughter, and that not because of any crime of which they have been convicted but because they are of Jewish descent.

The Church of Sweden must not keep silent when such a thing happens at our frontiers. If we were to keep silent, the stones would cry out. We are shocked to the depths of our hearts when we think of the sufferings of these unhappy people. We tremble at the dragon's teeth of hatred which are senselessly being sown...

What harvest must grow from such seed? We stand powerless. What is being prepared for the Jews who have remained in Norway? Can our authorities do anything to save them? We implore them to consider this question seriously and without delay.” [504]

In a broadcast sermon, Bishop Aukn of Strangnas commented upon the events of the time:

”Violence is triumphing, and the commandments which form the bases of our human common life are remorselessly being trampled upon. Every day brings new pictures of horror. Recently we received the news that the frightful plague of racial persecution has descended upon our Scandinavia... There are probably no limits to the depths to which people who are blinded by hatred may sink. <228> But at the same time a wonderful thing is happening: in the midst of this darkness we are witnessing a bold and firm steadfastness which remains unmoved even when it leads to persecution and martyrdom.

Such events have opened the eyes of many people who were subject to the prejudice that we have only to reckon with material factors and the resources of outward force. They bear witness to the power of the Holy Spirit, to the power of Christ, which works in secret and is unconquerable.

If we in our Swedish Church are able to begin the new Church year as a free Church in a free country, that lays upon us a great responsibility: to stand up in unshakable faithfulness for the holiness of the laws of G.o.d, when the most elementary demands of justice are trampled upon.” [505]

At a Meeting of Protest, held in Stockholm on the same Sunday, Dr. Natanael Beskow said:

”Here we are not concerned with neutrality or politics, but with humanity or inhumanity. Nothing of that kind must ever happen in Sweden. Indifference in face of a crime is in itself a crime.”

The meeting pa.s.sed the following Resolution:

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