Catholic Bishop: Even the Third Reich did not prohibit public worship

RCC Bishop Athanasius Schneider. Photo: wikipedia

Catholic Bishop Athanasius Schneider believes that the measures taken to combat the coronavirus are a political dictatorship, and even the Third Reich did not close temples. The bishop wrote about this on the pages of the Oneterfive.com online edition.

According to the bishop, "the current atmosphere of almost planetary panic is continuously fueled by the universally proclaimed ‘dogma’ of the new coronavirus pandemic."

"The drastic and disproportionate security measures with the denial of the fundamental human rights – freedom of movement, freedom of assembly and freedom of opinion – appear almost globally orchestrated in the world along a precise plan," the bishop assures.

Therefore, Schneider believes that "the entire human race becomes a kind of prisoner of a world ‘sanitary dictatorship’, which for its part also reveals itself as a political dictatorship."

He emphasizes that “an important side effect of this new ‘sanitary dictatorship’ that is spreading around the world is the growing and uncompromising ban on all forms of public worship.”

The bishop recalls that "beginning on March 16, 2020, the German government prohibited all forms of public religious gatherings for all religions."

According to him, "such a radical measure of a strict ban on all forms of public worship was unimaginable even during the Third Reich."

In addition, Schneider pointed out that "before these measures were taken in Germany, a governmentally ordered prohibition of any public worship was implemented in Italy and Rome, the heart of Catholicism and of Christianity."

He is sure that for this reason "the current situation with the ban on public worship in Rome brings the Church to the time of an analogous prohibition issued by pagan Roman emperors in the first centuries."

“Clerics who dare celebrate the Holy Mass in the presence of the faithful in such circumstances could be punished or imprisoned. The worldwide 'sanitary dictatorship' has created a situation which breathes the air of the catacombs, of a persecuted Church, of an underground Church, especially in Rome,” the hierarch writes.

Earlier, the UOJ wrote that in many dioceses of the RCC around the world, religious processions with the Holy Communion began.

Read also

Abp. Alexei Makes Statement on Putin Meeting, Responds to Criticisms

The OCA hierarch had received an icon of St. Herman of Alaska and of the Dormition of the Mother of God from Putin, and gifted him his own icon that was given to him by the monks of Mt. Athos on the day he was elevated to the episcopacy.

Trump Hails “Very Successful” Alaska Summit With Putin, Zelensky To Visit Washington

President says leaders agreed to pursue full peace agreement, not temporary ceasefire, to end Ukraine war

Met. Antony (Scharba) Undergoes Heart Surgery

A spokesman for the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the USA and of the Diaspora reports that the Metropolitan has been discharged and is recovering at home under medical care.

Vladimir Putin Meets with Abp. Alexei of Alaska

The Russian president presented the Archbishop of Alaska with two icons: one of St. Herman of Alaska and one of the Dormition of the Theotokos.

Fr. Andrew Stephen Damick Publishes Guide to 'the Other American Saints'

Fr. Damick’s research, sparked by a conversation with monks from Holy Cross Monastery, encourages Orthodox Christians to visit these sites for prayer and veneration, fostering a deeper connection to these often-overlooked saints.

Vladimir Putin Arrives in Alaska for Peace Talks with President Trump

The two leaders arrived in Anchorage, exchanging warm greetings on the runway.