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Ján Vojtaššák

January 01, 1970

Ján Vojtaššák (14 November 1877 – 4 August 1965)[1] was a Roman Catholic bishop of the Diocese of Spiš. He was imprisoned by the communist regime in Czechoslovakia in 1951. A case for his beatification is ongoing but has attracted opposition due to his complicity in the Holocaust in Slovakia.

Printed 1942

Early life edit

Ján Vojtaššák was born in 1877 in Zákamenné. He was ordained a bishop, alongside Karol Kmeťko and Marián Blaha, in 1921. Vojtaššák considered Andrej Hlinka his role model.[2]

Slovak State edit

Vojtaššák was the official Catholic representative to the Slovak Diet[3] during the Axis Slovak State regime and also served as Deputy Chairman of the parliament.[4] Vojtaššák personally signed documents for his diocese to take over the Baldovce spa from its original Jewish owners.[5][6] When the deportation of Jews from Slovakia to Poland was discussed in March 1942, Vojtaššák did not oppose the deportation but merely asked that Jews who had converted to Christianity be settled separately from those who continued to practice Judaism.[3] On 15 May, parliament approved Decree 68/1942, which retroactively legalized the deportation of Jews (which had begun in March), authorized the removal of their citizenship, and regulated exemptions.[7] Vojtaššák, who was at the time Deputy Chairman, spoke during that debate without opposing the deportation.[2][8]

Vatican diplomat Giuseppe Burzio wrote to Cardinal Luigi Maglione that Vojtaššák had reportedly said in a private meeting that the Church should not interfere in the Slovak State's persecution of the Jews because they were Slovakia's greatest enemies. Burzio wrote that Vojtaššák had a reputation for excessive nationalism and that he should not be expected to be sympathetic to Jews.[2]

The Slovak historian Ivan Kamenec is critical of Vojtaššák's behavior during the war, arguing that he effectively approved of the deportations and only criticized inhuman actions against Jews who converted to Christianity. Likewise, historian Jan Pešek said that Vojtaššák "supported the deportation of Jews from Slovakia because he considered them a 'foreign element on the body of the Slovak nation'", although Vojtaššák changed his mind after learning about the extermination camps. Pešek said that Vojtaššák's antisemitic attitudes can be explained by the fact he never traveled abroad and that in rural Slovakia many people believed that Jews were the enemy.[2]

Anti-communism edit

On 5 May 1945, he was arrested,[2] eventually being released in November 1945, at which point he returned to his native Spiš region. There, he was very active in the life of the Catholic Church. After the communist coup d'état in February 1948, he actively spoke against the communist regime closing down of religious schools in the country.[1] He refused to allow any Communist interference in the Church whatsoever.[2] In 1949 Vojtaššák was put under surveillance by the StB (State Security). In September 1950 he was arrested and transferred to a holding cell of Ruzyně Prison in Prague.[1] There he was violently interrogated until the end of the year. Despite the harsh interrogations and his age (73 years), he refused to sign a forced confession.[2]

In January 1951 Vojtaššák alongside two other Slovak bishops were tried in Bratislava court. The show trial resulted in a prison sentence of 24 years for treason, espionage and other charges.[1] He was interred in Valdice Prison, then Leopoldov Prison, and eventually in June 1956 in Pankrác Prison. During his imprisonment Vojtaššák was beaten and tortured, which took a toll on his health. Based on that, his sentence was temporarily suspended, and he was placed in a de facto house arrest in Děčín. In April 1959 he was arrested again for allegedly organizing a plot of Spiš priests. Vojtaššák was interrogated in several places, eventually landing again in Pankrác and Valdice prisons. His health was deteriorating further. In October 1963 he was released following the presidential amnesty for some political prisoners.[1] Vojtaššák wanted to return to Slovakia but the government ordered him a permanent residency in a retirement house for priests in Senohraby near Prague, where he lived until his death two years later.[9]

Proposed beatification edit

 
Memorial to Vojtaššák in Spišská Kapitula

In 1995, Pope John Paul II suggested that Vojtaššák should be canonized, which was opposed by Israeli historians and the Slovak Jewish community. The historians presented evidence of his involvement in the Holocaust in an open letter to the Vatican.[4][10] Jaroslav Franek, the president of the Central Union of Jewish Religious Communities in the Slovak Republic [sk], said "Bishop Vojtaššák failed morally both as a person and a politician".[2] Vojtaššák was also supported by Slovak clergy including František Tondra, president of the Slovak Bishops' Conference, who has lobbied for Vojtaššák's canonization. The beatification process was halted due to the opposition.[11][12] The case for his beatification was restarted and is ongoing as of 2019.[13]

References edit

Citations edit

  1. ^ a b c d e Profile of Bishop Vojtaššák at the official website of the Prešov Region
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h Kernová, Mirka (19 January 2006). "Ján Vojtaššák: mučeník či kontroverzná postava? Proces blahorečenia trvá už desať rokov". Denník SME (in Slovak). Retrieved 24 May 2020.
  3. ^ a b Hutzelmann 2018, p. 32.
  4. ^ a b Florian, Alexandru (2018). Holocaust Public Memory in Postcommunist Romania. Indiana University Press. p. 115. ISBN 978-0-253-03272-0.
  5. ^ "Arizáciu Baldoviec vyprosil biskup Vojtaššák". Pravda.sk (in Slovak). 25 April 2008. Retrieved 6 June 2020.
  6. ^ Lesna, Luba (10 November 2008). "Profiting from persecution". The Slovak Spectator. Retrieved 6 June 2020.
  7. ^ Hutzelmann 2018, p. 34.
  8. ^ "Tri tváre biskupa". .týždeň – iný pohľad na spoločnosť (in Slovak). 24 November 2007. Retrieved 6 June 2020.
  9. ^ "Životopis". Boží sluha biskup Ján Vojtaššák (in Slovak). Retrieved 24 May 2020.
  10. ^ "Around the Jewish World: Slovak Bishop's Wartime Record Proves He's No Saint, Historians Say". Jewish Telegraphic Agency. 30 October 2000. Retrieved 1 February 2020.
  11. ^ Apor, Péter; Horváth, Sándor; Mark, James (2017). Secret Agents and the Memory of Everyday Collaboration in Communist Eastern Europe. Anthem Press. p. 304. ISBN 978-1-78308-724-2.
  12. ^ "Controversial Slovak bishop may be canonized". Jewish Telegraphic Agency. 13 June 2001. Retrieved 24 May 2020.
  13. ^ "Kauza blahorečenia Božieho služobníka Jána Vojtaššáka sa posunula do Ríma – Vatican News". Vatican News (in Slovak). 17 November 2019. Retrieved 1 February 2020.

General sources edit

Further reading edit

  • Hlavinka, Ján; Kamenec, Ivan; Styan, Martin C (2014). The burden of the past: Catholic bishop Ján Vojtaššák and the regime in Slovakia (1938–1945) (English ed.). Bratislava: Holocaust Documentation Centre. ISBN 978-80-969857-7-7.

External links edit

  •   Media related to Ján Vojtaššák at Wikimedia Commons

January 01, 1970
ján, vojtaššák, november, 1877, august, 1965, roman, catholic, bishop, diocese, spiš, imprisoned, communist, regime, czechoslovakia, 1951, case, beatification, ongoing, attracted, opposition, complicity, holocaust, slovakia, printed, 1942, contents, early, lif. Jan Vojtassak 14 November 1877 4 August 1965 1 was a Roman Catholic bishop of the Diocese of Spis He was imprisoned by the communist regime in Czechoslovakia in 1951 A case for his beatification is ongoing but has attracted opposition due to his complicity in the Holocaust in Slovakia Printed 1942 Contents 1 Early life 2 Slovak State 3 Anti communism 4 Proposed beatification 5 References 5 1 Citations 5 2 General sources 6 Further reading 7 External linksEarly life editJan Vojtassak was born in 1877 in Zakamenne He was ordained a bishop alongside Karol Kmetko and Marian Blaha in 1921 Vojtassak considered Andrej Hlinka his role model 2 Slovak State editVojtassak was the official Catholic representative to the Slovak Diet 3 during the Axis Slovak State regime and also served as Deputy Chairman of the parliament 4 Vojtassak personally signed documents for his diocese to take over the Baldovce spa from its original Jewish owners 5 6 When the deportation of Jews from Slovakia to Poland was discussed in March 1942 Vojtassak did not oppose the deportation but merely asked that Jews who had converted to Christianity be settled separately from those who continued to practice Judaism 3 On 15 May parliament approved Decree 68 1942 which retroactively legalized the deportation of Jews which had begun in March authorized the removal of their citizenship and regulated exemptions 7 Vojtassak who was at the time Deputy Chairman spoke during that debate without opposing the deportation 2 8 Vatican diplomat Giuseppe Burzio wrote to Cardinal Luigi Maglione that Vojtassak had reportedly said in a private meeting that the Church should not interfere in the Slovak State s persecution of the Jews because they were Slovakia s greatest enemies Burzio wrote that Vojtassak had a reputation for excessive nationalism and that he should not be expected to be sympathetic to Jews 2 The Slovak historian Ivan Kamenec is critical of Vojtassak s behavior during the war arguing that he effectively approved of the deportations and only criticized inhuman actions against Jews who converted to Christianity Likewise historian Jan Pesek said that Vojtassak supported the deportation of Jews from Slovakia because he considered them a foreign element on the body of the Slovak nation although Vojtassak changed his mind after learning about the extermination camps Pesek said that Vojtassak s antisemitic attitudes can be explained by the fact he never traveled abroad and that in rural Slovakia many people believed that Jews were the enemy 2 Anti communism editOn 5 May 1945 he was arrested 2 eventually being released in November 1945 at which point he returned to his native Spis region There he was very active in the life of the Catholic Church After the communist coup d etat in February 1948 he actively spoke against the communist regime closing down of religious schools in the country 1 He refused to allow any Communist interference in the Church whatsoever 2 In 1949 Vojtassak was put under surveillance by the StB State Security In September 1950 he was arrested and transferred to a holding cell of Ruzyne Prison in Prague 1 There he was violently interrogated until the end of the year Despite the harsh interrogations and his age 73 years he refused to sign a forced confession 2 In January 1951 Vojtassak alongside two other Slovak bishops were tried in Bratislava court The show trial resulted in a prison sentence of 24 years for treason espionage and other charges 1 He was interred in Valdice Prison then Leopoldov Prison and eventually in June 1956 in Pankrac Prison During his imprisonment Vojtassak was beaten and tortured which took a toll on his health Based on that his sentence was temporarily suspended and he was placed in a de facto house arrest in Decin In April 1959 he was arrested again for allegedly organizing a plot of Spis priests Vojtassak was interrogated in several places eventually landing again in Pankrac and Valdice prisons His health was deteriorating further In October 1963 he was released following the presidential amnesty for some political prisoners 1 Vojtassak wanted to return to Slovakia but the government ordered him a permanent residency in a retirement house for priests in Senohraby near Prague where he lived until his death two years later 9 Proposed beatification edit nbsp Memorial to Vojtassak in Spisska Kapitula In 1995 Pope John Paul II suggested that Vojtassak should be canonized which was opposed by Israeli historians and the Slovak Jewish community The historians presented evidence of his involvement in the Holocaust in an open letter to the Vatican 4 10 Jaroslav Franek the president of the Central Union of Jewish Religious Communities in the Slovak Republic sk said Bishop Vojtassak failed morally both as a person and a politician 2 Vojtassak was also supported by Slovak clergy including Frantisek Tondra president of the Slovak Bishops Conference who has lobbied for Vojtassak s canonization The beatification process was halted due to the opposition 11 12 The case for his beatification was restarted and is ongoing as of 2019 update 13 References editCitations edit a b c d e Profile of Bishop Vojtassak at the official website of the Presov Region a b c d e f g h Kernova Mirka 19 January 2006 Jan Vojtassak mucenik ci kontroverzna postava Proces blahorecenia trva uz desat rokov Dennik SME in Slovak Retrieved 24 May 2020 a b Hutzelmann 2018 p 32 a b Florian Alexandru 2018 Holocaust Public Memory in Postcommunist Romania Indiana University Press p 115 ISBN 978 0 253 03272 0 Arizaciu Baldoviec vyprosil biskup Vojtassak Pravda sk in Slovak 25 April 2008 Retrieved 6 June 2020 Lesna Luba 10 November 2008 Profiting from persecution The Slovak Spectator Retrieved 6 June 2020 Hutzelmann 2018 p 34 Tri tvare biskupa tyzden iny pohľad na spolocnost in Slovak 24 November 2007 Retrieved 6 June 2020 Zivotopis Bozi sluha biskup Jan Vojtassak in Slovak Retrieved 24 May 2020 Around the Jewish World Slovak Bishop s Wartime Record Proves He s No Saint Historians Say Jewish Telegraphic Agency 30 October 2000 Retrieved 1 February 2020 Apor Peter Horvath Sandor Mark James 2017 Secret Agents and the Memory of Everyday Collaboration in Communist Eastern Europe Anthem Press p 304 ISBN 978 1 78308 724 2 Controversial Slovak bishop may be canonized Jewish Telegraphic Agency 13 June 2001 Retrieved 24 May 2020 Kauza blahorecenia Bozieho sluzobnika Jana Vojtassaka sa posunula do Rima Vatican News Vatican News in Slovak 17 November 2019 Retrieved 1 February 2020 General sources edit Hutzelmann Barbara 2018 Einfuhrung Slowakei Introduction Slovakia In Hutzelmann Barbara Hausleitner Mariana Hazan Souzana eds Slowakei Rumanien und Bulgarien Slovakia Romania and Bulgaria Die Verfolgung und Ermordung der europaischen Juden durch das nationalsozialistische Deutschland 1933 1945 de The Persecution and Murder of European Jews by Nazi Germany 1933 1945 in German Vol 13 Munich Institut fur Zeitgeschichte pp 18 45 ISBN 978 3 11 036500 9 Further reading editHlavinka Jan Kamenec Ivan Styan Martin C 2014 The burden of the past Catholic bishop Jan Vojtassak and the regime in Slovakia 1938 1945 English ed Bratislava Holocaust Documentation Centre ISBN 978 80 969857 7 7 External links edit nbsp Media related to Jan Vojtassak at Wikimedia Commons Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Jan Vojtassak amp oldid 1125743289, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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