BERLIN, Aug. 28 (CWNews.com)

    The German bishops' conference gathered in a meeting on Monday to decide whether the Church would join a public-private fund for reparations to former slave and forced laborers under the Nazi regime.

    In setting up the 10 billion Deutschemark fund earlier this year, government officials had urged all German institutions to take part, saying there was a total responsibility in Germany for Nazi labor practices that also involves the churches. Last month, the bishops reported that a church in Bavaria used Russian and Polish forced laborers and 19 French prisoners of war, but added that the men were paid. They added they were still investigating other instances of the use of forced labor.

    A decision from the bishops is expected to be announced on Tuesday.

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