Hyrdebrevet - Biskoppens kamp mod nazismen (2023)

With his signature on the Pastoral letter of October 1943, the Copenhagen Bishop, Hans Fuglsang-Damgaard risked not only his position but also his life. The letter strongly condemned the Nazi persecution of the Jews in Denmark and on October 3rd 1943 the letter was read aloud in churches across the nation urging Danes to help their fellow Jewish citizens. Prior to the reading, the letter had been mailed to the German Occupying Power in Denmark... In the documentary "The Pastoral Letter", Historian Bent Blüdnikow and former Chief Rabbi Bent Lexner set out on a historic journey to unveil the unknown story of Bishop Fuglsang-Damgaard and his fight against the Nazis. The Story behind the Film In September 1943, Bishop Fuglsang-Damgaard issued a pastoral letter, strongly condemning the Nazi persecution of the Jews. The letter was read aloud in more than 1800 churches across the nation during church services on October 3rd 1943, beginning with the words: "Wherever racial or religious persecution should occur the Christian church is duty-bound to oppose it." With this letter Fuglsang-Damgaard and the Danish church spoke directly to the Danish people, making the Pastoral letter the moral and ethical starting point for the rescue of the Danish Jews.