{"id":31279,"date":"2026-05-06T15:03:58","date_gmt":"2026-05-06T15:03:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/schoolshistory.org.uk\/topics\/?page_id=31279"},"modified":"2026-05-07T10:34:59","modified_gmt":"2026-05-07T10:34:59","slug":"catholic-church-and-its-opposition-to-the-nazi-state","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/schoolshistory.org.uk\/topics\/european-history\/nazi-germany\/catholic-church-and-its-opposition-to-the-nazi-state\/","title":{"rendered":"Catholic Church and it\u2019s Opposition to the Nazi State"},"content":{"rendered":"

The relationship between the Catholic Church and the Nazi State was a complicated mixture of opposing views, mutual dislike and mutual recognition of the others significance. It is both a highly political relationship, and also one based on simple day to day actions and beliefs: from both sides.<\/p>\n

\"Bishop
Bishop Konrad von Preysing, Bishop of Berlin. He opposed Nazism in various ways, including helping Jews in Berlin.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Relationship between the Nazi Party and Catholic Church<\/h3>\n

As the Nazi Party grew in size and electoral prominence the Catholic Church had to take the prospect of a Nazi regime seriously. There were many things that the NSDAP stood for that were quite clearly at odds with the doctrine of the Catholic Faith. At the same time though, there was a fear of a Communist takeover and acceptance that the voters, many of whom were Catholic, were the ones putting the Nazi\u2019s into a position of power.<\/p>\n

Dialogue and Deals<\/h3>\n

Shortly after Hitler was appointed Chancellor, the German State and the Vatican entered into discussions. So too did the NSDAP and the Catholic Centre Party. The results of these discussions were the Catholic Centre Party voting for the Enabling Act and the Concordat, which provided for freedom of worship for Catholics along with a promise from the Church to respect the aims of the NSDAP led government of the time.<\/p>\n

Officially, at least, the two parties were at peace with one another at the beginning of the Nazi Dictatorship. However, the Nazi party were quick to ignore the Concordat and some members of the Catholic Clergy were open in their dissent.<\/p>\n

Nazi repression of the Catholic Church<\/h3>\n