Pope and Jews
The substantive thing that I agree with Mr. Kokoskl's letter of January 31st is that Nazi Germany was a “complex period of history.” During that period the role of the German Catholic Church in particular and the Vatican in general is at best murky and perplexing. Before the Roman Catholic Church can justify Pope Pius XII's elevation to sainthood there should be responses to numerous answered questions. To begin with, Firstly, why the Vatican was one of the very first independent political entities to recognize Hitler's government, and why it was in such a rush to make its unwise "Reich Concordat" with Hitler, six months after he was in office, thereby giving it unwarranted moral legitimacy in the eyes of the rest of the world?
Secondly, why did the Church never repudiate that Concordat, once it became clear that it had "made a pact with the devil"?
Thirdly, why there is so little evidence of the authorities of the Catholic Church in either Germany or the Vatican speaking clearly and loudly against the Nazis, yet there is ample evidence of the Church insisting on being "neutral", when it was urged to speak out against the Nazi's. And yet, when it regularly instructed German Catholics to obey their Nazi rulers, was that being "neutral"?
Fourthly, Can anybody say why didn't Pope Pius XI or XII ever put "Mein Kampf" on the Index of Forbidden Books? Or did the church allow this book to compete throughout the Hitler years with the Judeo-Christian Bible, as the best selling book in Germany?
Fifthly, why the Pope and/or bishops of the Nazi countries never excommunicated or even refused the sacraments to Adolf Hitler or any of the many other high-ranking Catholics in the Nazi leadership?
Sixthly, how could the Roman Catholic Church order a solemn requiem mass for Hitler upon learning of his death?
In conclusion, I dare say that the Roman Catholic Church in Germany chose never to oppose Hitler publicly and unequivocally during his time.
For all latest news, follow The Daily Star's Google News channel.
Comments