Cardinal De Jong remembered for his pronounced anti-Nazi views

UTRECHT - Archbishop Johannes de Jong, who in 1946 was appointed Cardinal by Pope Pius XII, during WWII became a formidable opponent of nazi ideology, nazi-Germany, and its henchmen in the Netherlands. He spoke up for the persecuted Jews. Ameland-born De Jong died 50 years ago and the recent anniversary of his death was used to commemorate his outspokenness during the German occupation of the Netherlands, 1940-1945. On July 26, 1942, priests at all Roman Catholic churches in the country read the pastoral letter by De Jong protesting the deportation of Jews. In a reprisal, the Germans rounded up about 200 Jews who had converted to Roman Catholic faith.