Catholic clergy and Nazi officials give the Nazi salute. Germany, date uncertain. Image Credit: Holocaust Encyclopedia
In the 1930's almost everyone in Germany was Christian, but the rise of Nazi regime promoted racism and violence, especially against the jews, Nazi's put a hateful and racist agenda, religious leader were forced to decide wether to oppose or go along with nazi's, and their choices affected not just the institution but also the moral direction of the whole country.
There were roughly 40 million Protestants and 20 million Catholics. Nazi's promoted what they called "Positive Christianity," blending with faith, nationalism, and racist ideas. Among protestants, some of the churches, like Deutsche Christen, went along with the Nazi's while the confessing church refused and insisted on their loyalty to God, not the state. Catholics were cautious in signing agreements to protect their church but largely avoided criticism of the Nazi policies.
Many leaders stayed quiet, only a few courageous individuals, like Dietrich Bonhoeffer, resisted openly, while most churches prioritised survival. Historians point out that when the institution avoids doing the right thing, it end up supporting injustices without meaning to. The US Holocaust Memorial Museum says, "The churches’ hesitation to confront Nazi policies shows how institutions can fail when fear outweighs ethical responsibility.”
In 1937, the Catholic Church criticised the Nazi's ideas in Mit brennender Sorge, but the Gestapo took the copies and more than 700 protestant pastors were arrested for resisting the Nazis. Speaking out was risky.
Most churches focused on survival rather than opposing Nazi policies. A few individuals, like Dietrich Bonhoeffer, resisted openly, but most leaders stayed cautious. Historians say this shows how institutions can become indirectly complicit when they avoid taking a moral stand. As the US Holocaust Memorial Museum notes, “The churches’ hesitation to confront Nazi policies shows how institutions can fail when fear outweighs ethical responsibility.” In 1937, the Catholic encyclical Mit brennender Sorge criticised Nazi ideology, but copies were seized by the Gestapo. Over 700 Protestant pastors were arrested for resisting state control, showing the risks of speaking out.
This history teaches an important lesson: individuals need to think critically about right and wrong , even when institutions remain silent. Moral courage matters, and both people and institutions play a vital role in protecting society’s values, Saying something can make a big impact.
References: United States Holocaust Memorial Museum. (2025). The German Churches and the Nazi State. https://encyclopedia.ushmm.org/content/en/article/the-german-churches-and-the-nazi-state
Mit brennender Sorge (Catholic encyclical, 1937): Pope Pius XI. (1937). Mit brennender Sorge [Encyclical]. Vatican.va. https://www.vatican.va/content/pius-xi/en/encyclicals/documents/hf_p-xi_enc_14031937_mit-brennender-sorge.html © 2025 Mariah. All text in this article is original content (OC) written by the author.
