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SLOVAKIA: CATHOLIC BISHOPS ON THE 70th ANNIVERSARY OF THE JEW’S DEPORTATIONS

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Creato: 21 Marzo 2012

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(Sir Europe - Bratislava) - “Secularized environment of modern european society gave birth to totalitarian ideologies, aspiring to replace the religion. However, it has been proved that they lead Europe and whole humanity to great waves of violence and injustice”, write Slovak bishops in the statement published yesterday on the occasion of the 70th anniversary of deportations of the Jews from the country. The first deportation of young women and girls to the Nazi concentration camp Auschwitz-Birkenau took place on 25 March 1942, followed by the range of deportations of another over 70.000 Jews. Catholic and evangelical bishops warned political leaders from implementation of racial principles into legislation, but their voices remained “unheard and marginalized”. “Almost all deported Jews died due to inhuman treatment in Nazi camps. It’s a reality that can’t be changed. These painful facts motivate us - as Catholic Christians - to expression of a sincere and deep regret over the tragedy”, reads the declaration of the Bishops’ conference.

Slovakia has a primacy among the countries of the Middle Europe in regard to the number of Jews that have been saved. This statement is supported by the fact that the title Righteous among the Nations, awarded to those who risked their lives during the Holocaust to save Jews from extermination, has been granted to 540 Slovaks. “Interventions of bishops, priests and laymen, hiding of Jews in convents and Christian families, issue of false official documents - all this was an expression of Christian love for the neighbour”, conclude the prelates, affirming that “the past can not be revised but we can learn from it” and Christians can do a lot to become “bearers of hope”.

© www.agensir.it - march 21th 2012