Lay Catholics Suffer From Church Leaders’ Silence on Conscience Rights

By Phil Lawler, Catholic Culture, Dec 16, 2021

Phil Lawler has been a Catholic journalist for more than 30 years. He has edited several Catholic magazines and written eight books. Founder of Catholic World News, he is the news director and lead analyst at CatholicCulture.org. See full bio.

Does Franz Jägerstätter owe an apology to his bishop?

Jägerstätter, as you will recall, sought counsel from his bishop before defying the Nazi regime, refusing to engage in military service, on the grounds that “he could not be both a Nazi and a Catholic.” The bishop sought to dissuade him, yet Jägerstätter persisted in his lonely opposition to a brutal ideology—and won for himself the crown of martyrdom.

So then does Bishop Joseph Fliesser owe Blessed Franz Jägerstätter an apology, for failing to support his powerful witness? …

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