Pulpit Law
Encyclopedia
The Pulpit Law was an 1871 section
(§ 130a) to the Strafgesetzbuch (the German Criminal Code) which outlawed criticism of the state from any pulpit.
The law reads:
After the passage of that law, the anti-Catholic campaign commenced through various subsequent laws to banish priest
s and nuns from the country, drive bishops from their chairs, close schools, confiscate church property, disrupt church gathering, disband Catholic associations, and feud with the Vatican. By 1872, priests and nuns were banned from teaching in school
s and the Jesuits were ordered out of the country.
The section remained in force until 1953, though while it was rarely enforced after the German State managed to reconcile with the Holy See in 1878, several religious orders like the Jesuits remained banned from the German Empire, confiscated properties were not returned, a de facto
discrimination against the Catholic minority continued in Civil Service positions and civil marriage remained mandatory.
Section
Section may refer to:* Section * Section * Archaeological section* Histological section, a thin slice of tissue used for microscopic examination* Section, an instrumental group within an orchestra...
(§ 130a) to the Strafgesetzbuch (the German Criminal Code) which outlawed criticism of the state from any pulpit.
The law reads:
- Any cleric or other minister of religion shall be punished with imprisonment or incarceration of up to two years if he, while exercising his occupation or having his occupation exercised, makes state affairs the subject of announcements or discussion either in public before a crowd, in a church, or before any number of people in some other place designated for religious gatherings in such a way that it endangers the public peace.
After the passage of that law, the anti-Catholic campaign commenced through various subsequent laws to banish priest
Priest
A priest is a person authorized to perform the sacred rites of a religion, especially as a mediatory agent between humans and deities. They also have the authority or power to administer religious rites; in particular, rites of sacrifice to, and propitiation of, a deity or deities...
s and nuns from the country, drive bishops from their chairs, close schools, confiscate church property, disrupt church gathering, disband Catholic associations, and feud with the Vatican. By 1872, priests and nuns were banned from teaching in school
School
A school is an institution designed for the teaching of students under the direction of teachers. Most countries have systems of formal education, which is commonly compulsory. In these systems, students progress through a series of schools...
s and the Jesuits were ordered out of the country.
The section remained in force until 1953, though while it was rarely enforced after the German State managed to reconcile with the Holy See in 1878, several religious orders like the Jesuits remained banned from the German Empire, confiscated properties were not returned, a de facto
De facto
De facto is a Latin expression that means "concerning fact." In law, it often means "in practice but not necessarily ordained by law" or "in practice or actuality, but not officially established." It is commonly used in contrast to de jure when referring to matters of law, governance, or...
discrimination against the Catholic minority continued in Civil Service positions and civil marriage remained mandatory.