The Church in WWII
The Danish Church had a very clear position during the years of World War II. When the tension was rising and it looked inevitable that the Germans would carry out an action against the Danish Jews, the Danish bishop Hans Fuglsang-Damgaard wrote a letter on behalf of all Danish bishops. This marked the first time in history that all Danish bishops send out a common declaration to the people.
As the Germans took this step the night of 2nd October this letter was sent to the Danish priests to be read aloud in the beginning of the church services in all of the country the 3rd October.
The Church of Denmarkâs position on the Jewish question.
“Everywhere, where persecutions of Jews are taking place due to racial or religious reasons, it is the duty of the Christian church to protest against it.
1. Because we would never be able to forget, that the Lord of the church, Jesus Christ, was born in Bethlehem of Virgin Mary in accordance to God’s promise to his own people, Israel. The history of the Jewish people until the birth of Christ, consists of the preparation to that salvation, which God has prepared in all humans through Christ. This is signified by the Old Testament being a part of our Bible.
2. Because the persecution of Jews contradicts the Church of Jesus Christ’s message of human perception and charity. Christ is no respecter of persons, and he has learned us to see, that every human life is precious in the eyes of God.
3. Because it contradicts the perception of justice, which is possessed by the Danish people, enshrined in our Danish-Christian culture through centuries. In accordance to this, all Danish citizens have by the words of the constitution equal right and responsibility before the Law and [also] Religious Freedom guaranteed. We perceive the freedom of religion as the right to practice our worshiping after being called [to service], and conscience, so that race and religion never alone may be occasion to depriving the rights, the liberty, or the property of a man. Regardless of difference in religious views, we will fight to ensure that our Jewish brothers and sister retain the same liberty, which we ourselves value higher than life itself.
There exists among the Danish church’s leaders a clear understanding of our duty to be law-abiding citizens, which does not ill-timely put up against those who have authority over us, but at the same time we are in our conscious compelled to assert the law and protest against any violation of law, therefore, we will in this context unequivocally acknowledge that we must obey God more than humans.
29 September, 1943.
On behalf of the bishops.
Hans Fuglsang-Damgaard.”