FALK, ADALBERT. — Prussian Minister of Worship, b. at Matschkau (Silesia) on 10 April 1827, d. at Hamm on 7 July 1900. Entering the judiciary in 1855, he was Minister of Worship from January 1872 to July 1879. Three years later he became president of the Hamm Tribunal, a position he held until his death. During the Kulturkampf, he played a leading role and worked out in legal detail the well-known “May Laws.” In short, F. was the faithful executor of the orders given by Bismarck and was set aside when Prussia became concerned with re-establishing relations with the Holy See.
BIBL.: H. Brück, Geschichte der katholischen Kirche in Deutschland, IV, 1-2, Münster 1908, passim; J. F. Schultz, Er179, in und Erlebnisse mit A. F., in Deutsche Revue, 32 (1907, IV), pp. 53-63.
Silvio Furlani