The Churches in Germany In the course of the religious
struggle in Germany, the conflict between Christianity and National Socialism becomes more acute, and the desire of moderates on both sides to patch up a compromise grows increasingly difficult to realise. A month ago Herr Hitler ordered Reichsrninister Kern to arrange new elections to the Synod of the Evangelical Church ; it is understood that Herr Kern has submitted four schemes to the Fiihrer, each of which has been rejected. One of the chief difficulties in holding the elections is that the confessional Church refuses to recognise Herr Kern as a fit person to supervise them, because of a speech of his in February, in which he described the doctrine of the divinity of Christ as "ridiculous." He also claimed that Herr Hider is the direct instrument of God ; Pastor Niemoller, on the other hand, characterises the Frihrer as the "golden calf around which our people dance," and refuses to take part in the election unless it is held on the clear issue of the incompatibility of "Biblical Christianity" with the doctrines of the German-Christians. It is hardly surprising that Herr Kern's plans have broken down. The relations of the State with the Catholics are little better than with the Evangelicals, and the Vatican has had to recognise that Herr Hitler pays no more respect to the Concordat than he does to international treaties.
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