Catholics to canonize Pius XII?
Pope Benedict XVI has taken the next step on the way to canonizing Pope Pius XII, whom most Jews believe did little or nothing to stop the Holocaust when he was Pope. Some historians and Jewish groups have argued Pius should have done more to prevent the deaths of 6 million Jews by the Nazis and their collaborators, but the Vatican insists Pius used quiet diplomacy to try to save Jews. The German-born Benedict's approval of a decree about his "heroic virtues" is certain to set off a new round of criticism from Jewish organizations.It's not just a question of taking the Jewish community's feelings into consideration. It's a question of the historical facts. The Pope was in a better position than anyone in the World to speak out on European Jewry's behalf. Sadly, he did nothing. To rewrite history to argue that he engaged in 'quiet diplomacy' and therefore deserves to be canonized is a sham. And it's a sham that shouldn't just be upsetting to Jews. Both Jews and Catholics believe in a scripture that says to stay away from untruthful things (Exodus 23:7).
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Benedict ... made an official visit to Israel and has already made two visits to synagogues. But his decision to take a step forward in Pius' long-delayed beatification process will likely spark further outrage among Jews still incensed over Benedict's rehabilitation earlier this year of a Holocaust-denying bishop.
"While it is obviously up to the Vatican to determine who its saints are, the church's repeated insistence that it seeks mutually respectful ties with the Jewish community ought to mean taking our sensitivities into account on this most crucial historical era," said David Harris, executive director of the American Jewish Committee.
Abraham Foxman, a Holocaust survivor and the Anti-Defamation League's national director, said he was disappointed that the pope had taken the decision while the historical jury is still out on Pius' record.
"I can't understand the rush, especially while there are still survivors who are alive who feel the issue very, very deeply and are being told the files need time to be processed. What's the imperative?" Foxman told The Associated Press.
posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 12:52 PM
3 Comments:
As a Catholic, I'm not entirely sure about Pius' canonization either. But in his defense, had he spoken out more strongly against Hitler and had he demanded that all Catholics do the same, might he not have been sentencing Catholics to the same fate as the Jews? And was it really his place, safe in Rome, to risk the lives of Catholics in Germany and in German-occupied countries?
Pius was a rasha who should rot in hell, however I am sick of Foxman types making an issue of this.
If the church wants a nazi to be a saint, its their church. Besides it will expose their tue colors.
I just think that American Jews are in no position to point fingers as the book "A Deafening Silence "exposed. When the rabbis marched few joined them. The Federation types that have made a big business out of the Holocaust were not only silent but condemned the Bergsonites. Perhaps they are trying to blunt any criticism of their own actions.
Even today the Jewish community has changed little.80% voted for Obama. 80% of floridas Jews would vote for Achmadinejad if he doubled their Medicare, or 80% of california Jews would vote fro him if he ratified Kyoto.
If fact maybe Pius was actually an American Liberal Jew
For Nate: I understand your concern and would sympathize if the facts did not prove the opposite. There was an instance where speaking out did, in fact, stop an murder campaign. It involved those "unworthy" of life, those born with birth defects, cripples, sufferers of schizophrenia and other mental "illnesses." And, of course, those born mentally retarded. These were the originals, the trial ballons, so to speak, of Germany's effort to achieve the perfect Nordic "race." These were the first to be subject not to gas chambers, they were a later development, but to asphyxiation by carbon monoxide in vans specially designed for the task. The practice was halted after several tens-of-thousands died due to public protest, including that of Catholicism.
If interested, you may find articles relating to a multitude of articles relating to the Holocaust and other topics on my blog, Israel, the Diaspora and Jewish Denial at, http://www.jewishdenial.blogspot.com/.
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