Father Coughlin (Father Coughlin 11-20-1938 Perse...)

Persecution — Jewish and Christian
 
By Father Charles E. Coughlin
Historic 1938 Broadcast

Transcript: Good afternoon my friends. At long last, a calloused world has come in personal contact with a persecution which it understands. At long last, it appears that the better sympathies of an indifferent citizenry are aroused to protest against the mad injustices now being meted out to a minority people resident abroad.

This afternoon bear with me while I add my voice in protest against persecution — that murderous weapon of hatred; bear with me while I endeavor to trace to its lair the fanged serpent of hatred whose sting has struck once again to spew poison and deal out death over the face of the earth — a fanged serpent which, on every previous occasion, has beat a slimy retreat to rest in security until appropriate conditions summoned it to emerge and repeat its devastation.

This time a united world must shatter the cruel weapon of persecution. This time we must assault hatred so that never again will it lift its head to assault us.

Thus, I shall ask an intelligent audience composed of intelligent Christians and intelligent Jews: “Why is there persecution in Germany today? How can we destroy it?”

Before attempting to answer these questions, permit me to review for the uninformed members of this audience the chief incidents immediately preceding the latest manifestations of persecution suffered by thoughsands of innocent Jews, natives of Germany; a persecution which, fortunately for all, has received a superabundance of publicity both at home and abroad.

A few days ago, a young Polish-Jew fired a shot that was heard around the world. Because his Polish-Jewish parents were dismissed from Germany by an order issued by the Nazi government, expelling all foreign-born Jews from the Reich, this frenzied youth murdered a German public official in Paris… (more…)