FORCED CONVERSIONS

Chronicle (Levin), 7 October 1946, Page 5

FORCED CONVERSIONS

Press Assn

Pope Denies Allegations , TRIAL OFARCHBISHOP

3y Telegraph

.-Copyright

Received Monday, 11.5 a.m. RGME, Oct. 6. His Holiness tlie Pope, addressing the Sacred Roman Rota at Castei Gandolfo, denied that he had approved the so-called forced conversions to Catholicism in Yugoslavia as aileged by the prosecution in the criai of Archbishop Stipinac. The Pope termed tne trial as "most sad." He recalled that the , Yugoslav Legation to the Hoiy See eariy in 19.42 inquired about the rnslny conversions of "Croat dissidents" to Catholicism in Yugoslavia. The Pope added that the Legation expressly recognised in its inquiry "that neither the Holy See nor the Catholic Episcopate in Croatia had any part in it." The Vatican, replying, cited the church principle that "conversion must result, not of exterior con-. straint, but of a soul's adherence to the truths taught by the Catholic Church." The reply added: "Consequently the fact that suddenly a great number of Croat dissidents asked to be received into the Catholic Church cannot but seriously preoccupy the Croat Episcopate." The Pope has recalled the special Episcopal Committee set up to deal with the matter and ensure that the conversions conformed with Catholic doctrine, and were the fruit of persuasion and not constraint. He concluded: "The Holy See for" its part does not fail to recommend and inculcate the exact observance of canonical prescriptions and directions issued on this subject." Earlier cables stated that allegations of forcible mass conversions were made against Archbishop Stepinac at his trial in the Supreme Court of Croatia on charges of crimes against the people. The Public Prosecutor aileged that Archbishop Stepinac, in a report addressed to the Pope during the war, had given the exact number of forcible conversions. A succession of prosecution witnesses testified that Catholic priests, armed with pistols, were engaged in the forcible conversion of Serbs to Catholicism.