Well, there goes the Catholic Church. . .

[xiphias]

So, we went from a Pope who, in WWII helped a Jewish refugee, to a Pope who, in WWII, was a Hitler youth.

Any bets how long until the majority of American Catholics form a schismatic church and just get away from Rome?

My money's on fifteen minutes.

Comments

[alaria-lyon.livejournal.com]

Please see the article I posted from the Jerusalem Post.

[pocketnaomi.livejournal.com]

I saw it. They neglect to mention that, while the Hitler Youth was indeed formally compulsory, there were plenty of people including some of Ratzinger's personal friends who refused to join. They were not arrested, harmed, or threatened in any way. He knew that at the time, and still decided to join.

I don't think it makes him a Nazi, just a coward who has far more determination to stand up for his belief in correct technical doctrine than his belief that mass murder is wrong.

[alaria-lyon.livejournal.com]

Perhaps. He was 14 when he first joined. I know when I was 14 I wouldn't have the guts to defy the government. Actually, when I was 18 or 21 I'm not sure I would have. I guess that makes me a coward too. As a Jew, I likely would have hid with Christians, rather than fight in the resistance. But that's just me.

[pocketnaomi.livejournal.com]

Big difference between hiding and actively participating. But maybe it is just you. At fourteen, I would certainly have hidden from certain death if I had the chance, but I would not have participated in something reprehensible if I knew that people who said no were left alone and not bothered. He was in no danger and he *knew* he was in no danger, of anything except losing his tuition assistance. Evidently, innocent life does have a price to this Pope, and it's not terribly high.

Re: Well, there goes the Catholic Church. . .

[pir-anha.livejournal.com]

oh please. people were not "left alone". refusing to join the hitler jugend could have serious consequences -- and insiduously, not just for the refuser, but for the parents. we're not just talking about defying the government, but also about getting your family in trouble. it's real easy for people from the safety of today's comfortable life to criticise those who didn't join the resistance. what i've seen in the US after 9/11 makes me understand the ordinary germans under hitler a lot better. most people are extremely easy to fool and cow.

there is plenty for which one can blame ratzinger, but the "nazi supporter" cries are unreasonable IMO. and no, i don't like him at all, and am deeply disappointed (though not surprised) that they elected him pope -- john paul II pretty much set it up for this. i just don't think blaming him for his mandatory HJ and wehrmacht service is the right tack.