Catholic Clergy Defy Czech Reds

Chronicle (Levin), 18 July 1949, Page 5

Catholic Clergy Defy Czech Reds

> N.Z P.A.-

—Rpvter.

Covyriqht)

Received Mondav, 1 a.m. PRAGUE, .Tulv 17. A defiant declaration from the '"mholie clergy was read at St. Yita 's ''aihedral pledging lovaltv to Arc.h-b'-liop Beran and denouncing the Gov- » I'fiH-nt sponsored Catholic action. The Communist Minister of .Tustieo ■Mr. Alexei Cepickal accnsed the Ibmian Catholic Archbishrm ("Dr. Josef F- ranl and members of his liierarchv ■>f Ireason against the State. At the ■■amo time he disclosed the draft of a 1*111 prepared for the Czechoslovak A at ional Assomhlv's approval givingi ihe State full control nver all churches, Afr. Cepicka said Arehbishop Beran ni'iintained " ti'eacherous connectionsj with foreign enemies," and that in eoiinivanee with the Vatican emissar-i»-K, he plotted "trcacherous and antiStale riots. ' ' This was a terrible indietmeiit, said Mr. Cepicka. He did not indicate what action, if anv, would be taken against Dr. Beran, and the bishops who have stood with him in the fight against what thev call a "campaign to throttle the church. " Mr. Cepicka linked Dr. Beran with Cardinal M' idszenty in what he called the "nlotting of underground and notbStnte activitv. " He said that Cardinal Mindszenty — imprisoned for life bv the Hungarian Communist Government — sousrht an entrv visa to Czechoslovakia last vear to meet DrBeran was "advise him from his own evperience with underground and autiGtate activities in Hungarv. " The arrest of Cardinal Mindszenty had etopped the meeting.