Theodor Cardinal Innitzer

Theodor Cardinal Innitzer (born December 25, 1875 in Neugeschrei near Weipert, Northern Bohemia; died October 9, 1955 in Vienna) was Archbishop of Vienna and a cardinal of the Catholic Church.

Political activity and assessment

Innitzer remains a somewhat shady character of early 20th century Austrian history who did not do much credit to the Church, most of all because of his involvement in politics. This assessment stems from his cooperation with the Austro-fascist dictatorship of Engelbert Dollfuß and Kurt Schuschnigg from 1934 to 1938, which based many of its economic and social policies on the teachings of the Catholic Church. In 1938 Innitzer publicly endorsed the Anschluss of Austria to the Nazi Third Reich and went to meet Adolf Hitler personally when he came to Vienna on that occasion. He and the other Austrian bishops signed a declaration endorsing the Anschluss, set up by Gauleiter Bürckel. Without the bishop's consent the Nazi regime desseminated this statement throughout the German Reich. Pope Pius XI ordered the cardinal to sign a clarification (but which was just published in the Osservatore Romano).

Related Topics:
Austro-fascist - Engelbert Dollfuß - Kurt Schuschnigg - 1934 - 1938 - Anschluss - Nazi - Third Reich - Adolf Hitler - Gauleiter - Pius XI - Osservatore Romano

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Vatican Radio had immediately broadcast a vehement denunciation of the German action, and Cardinal Pacelli ordered Innitzer to report to Rome. Before meeting with the pope, Innitzer met with Pacelli, who had been outraged by Innitzer's statement. He made it clear that Innitzer needed to retract; he was made to sign a new statement, issued on behalf of all the Austrian bishops, which provided: ?The solemn declaration of the Austrian bishops ... was clearly not intended to be an approval of something that was not and is not compatible with God's law?. The Vatican newspaper also reported that the bishops' earlier statement had been issued without the approval from Rome.

Related Topics:
Vatican Radio - Pacelli

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In the subsequent months Germany cancelled the concordat in Austria and forbade Church institutions and catholic newspapers. In October 1938 thousands of youngster followed an invitation given by Innitzer to gather in the Cathedral of St Stephen for prayer and meditation. In his sermon Innitzer stated: There is just one Führer: Jesus Christ. The following day about 100 Nazis ravaged the archbishop's residence. His ambiguous relationship with the Nazi regime brought him a lot of criticism after the war (he was referred to as the "Heil Hitler Cardinal").

Related Topics:
Concordat - Führer

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