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• Concentration camp guards also used to say that their actions were excusable due to "the compulsory nature" of their work. "I had to obey orders" was what they'd say again and again. As for Ratzinger's tender age at the time he entered the Hitler Youth, that's not a very good excuse either. In Catholic school, we were taught that children reach the age of reason at 7. Ratzinger was twice that age when he became part of the Hitler Youth. As a young man, Karol Wojtyla resisted (although non-violently) the dictates of Naziism, and in fact was arrested by the Nazis in 1942. He risked his life, carrying a Jewish woman on his back to safety through the forest. No matter what the Jerusalem Post says, Ratzinger doesn't have the credibility that his predecessor did on this issue. His election has to set back Catholic-Jewish relations. (NT) -- Pius XIII?, Tue April 19, 2005 22:25:06
  • That's funny b/c Jews around the world have praised the selection. Why are they happier than many of us? (NT) -- bfg, Tue April 19, 2005 23:22:21
  • Interesting, and ironic, that you post under the name Pius...since the unsubstantiated allegations of Pius' complicity with the Nazis in a book and promoted by 60 Minutes have now been largely discredited. (NT) -- TrentonRam, Wed April 20, 2005 14:27:25
    • don't let facts get in the way, Trenton... (NT) -- bfg, Wed April 20, 2005 16:14:36
      • Sorry, but the facts speak for themselves. See JJ's post below. The author of "Hitler's Pope" has now admitted that his scholarship was poor. (NT) -- TrentonRam, Thu April 21, 2005 09:04:47
        • I think bfg was agreeing with you, TrentonRam. (NT) -- JoltinJoe, Thu April 21, 2005 09:16:32
          • Oops...my apologies, bfg (NT) -- TrentonRam, Thu April 21, 2005 09:36:24
    • John Cornwell, the author of that work, has retracted his allegations and acknowledged that his work "lacked balance." This was reported with far less fanfare than the reportage about the book in the first place. This is from The Economist, published on December 9, 2004: As he admits, “Hitler's Pope” (1999), his biography of Pope Pius XII, lacked balance. “I would now argue,” he says, “in the light of the debates and evidence following ‘Hitler's Pope', that Pius XII had so little scope of action that it is impossible to judge the motives for his silence during the war, while Rome was under the heel of Mussolini and later occupied by the Germans.” Any word from 60 Minutes when they will acknowledge their error? (NT) -- JoltinJoe, Wed April 20, 2005 16:59:49

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• There are reasons some Catholics may be opposed to Cardinal Ratzinger's appointment, but being a Nazi sympathizer should not be one of them. He was 14 when membership in the "Nazi Youth" was compulsory. He would have put his family in danger had he refused to participate. Also, he deserted the German Army in 1944, risking being caught, shot and hung from a lamppost without a trial. As I said, he may not be the right choice for everyone, but claiming he has "Nazi ties" is a non-strarter. (NT) -- Ram'83, Wed April 20, 2005 09:08:20