The Persecution of Jewish Children

 

We prepared a report on the persecution of Jewish children during the Second World War, particularly in France under the Vichy regime. In our paper, we pointed out the role of the Catholic Church as an actor in French politics during the German Occupation.

 

In the aftermath of the 1905 bill on secularism, this concept was severely criticized by right-wing politicians and by the church itself. The access to power by Philippe PETAIN as head of the southern part of France (Vichy France or Régime de Vichy in French) was the opportunity to re-establish connections between the Church and the state; and the northern part governed by the French Administration under the German authority. Therefore, Philippe PETAIN’s plan to found a state on the Christian principles of work, family and child protection was welcomed by religious leaders who saw in PETAIN the signs of an acceptance of the imprint of a moral order.

 

This led to an inclination of Church hierarchy —both French and Vatican— in favour of Vichy France. As the humanitarian situation even in the Vichy France grew increasingly tense, and the persecution of Jews grew steadily, this positive regard of the Catholic Church for the regime contrasted with humanitarian principles; more as some men of the Church had even approved the antisemitic legislation. 

 

In our paper, we describe how this contrast originated and which theoretical concepts underline it. In the first instance, we present the policies put in place by Vichy France to meet the demands of the Occupiers. But also, the justifications put forward by the French government to organize the deportation of foreign and then French Jewish children; reasons that were also justified by the Vatican itself. We note and analyse the stark contrast existing between “Christian” and secular conceptions of human rights; the secular concept being based on certain inalienable, truly human, rights, and the other formulating an ethnic based on the concept of men's likenesses with God. 

 

We analysed the example of the church-orchestrated rescue of children from Vénissieux Camp during the August 1942 raids.  In particular, we pointed out how the rescue of the children of Vénissieux had been organised; and who had taken part in it (churchmen, French citizens, members of civil society / associations…).

 
 
 

This document is part of the letter of transfer of parental authority that Rachel Berkowicz's father signed in order to save his daughter. In order to save their children, some Jewish parents transfered their paternal authority to the Amitié Chrétienne. In this way, the children would be placed under the protection of Cardinal Gerlier, one of the highest dignitaries in the French Church.

We then pointed out that, in the aftermath of the raids, the children “rescued” by the Church did undoubtedly have their physical integrity preserved. Nevertheless, we raised the question, regarding the forced baptism some children had to endure, if the Church’s resistance in “returning” the children at the end of the Occupation didn’t make the whole intervention a missionary work rather than a humanitarian mission.