In East Germany the struggle between Communist officials and church leaders suddenly grew sharper and more menacing. For a few days last week it looked as if the Protestant churches might abandon their carefully maintained neutrality and throw in their lot with the West.
The new crisis began just before Easter, when Communist bosses called in all the mayors of the Soviet zone and told them that the churches were meddling in politics. The mayors were instructed to keep a sharp watch on all religious services.
On the Defensive. Stocky, 69-year-old Bishop Otto Dibelius, chairman of the Council of Evangelical Churches (EKID) in...
To continue reading:
or
Log-In
