I also heard that he referred to Buddhism as "mental masturbation". Is this true?
2007-01-22 10:33:57 · 20 answers · asked by UrbanMonk 1 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Pope Benedict XVI unfortunately was born and grew up in Germany, a country ruled by the Nazi party. He is not and never has been a Nazi.
Like all non-Jewish boys, he was forced to join the Hitler Youth and later he was drafted into the German Army.
Just hope and pray that we do not have to make a decision to be executed or live and fight for a government in which we do not believe.
Thank God that you and I live in a very different world that the Pope did in 1930s and 1940s Germany.
I have not heard of your second statement. but it does not sound like something a learned cleric would say.
With love in Christ.
2007-01-22 17:52:07 · answer #1 · answered by imacatholic2 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I don't know about the Buddhism reference, but yes he was a member of the Hitler youth. ALL children in Germany at that time were required by law to be members of that group, there was no choice involved. Of course the question is if he still holds those ideas.
2007-01-22 10:38:41 · answer #2 · answered by kveldulf_gondlir 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
All German children, and all children in German occupied countries, were required to be interior the Hitler adolescents, era. It wasn't precisely an non-compulsory. My Grandfather and his brothers were all interior the Hitler adolescents at the same time as they were helping and later scuffling with section through section with the Norwegian Resistance. They were no longer then, and nonetheless at the prompt are not, even remotely seen to be "Nazis". they're seen heroes! there is no longer a eu alive that doesn't make that massive massive difference between Hitler adolescents and Nazi celebration till they're attempting to %. a strive against. So your pal is nice AND incorrect. I agree that Ratzinger maximum in all probability did not understand what precisely become occurring in the course of the sex abuse scandal. He bears some duty, advantageous, yet i do not imagine he realized precisely how very undesirable or far attaining this difficulty become.
2016-10-15 23:09:57 · answer #3 · answered by student 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
nice try but all knew about the pope in the hitler youth group. all children his age were MADE to join. now you should read -- the rest of the story.
2007-01-22 11:26:45 · answer #4 · answered by Marysia 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
All German boys were required to join the Hitler youth group. The Holy Father also went AWOL under the penalty of death -- so whats your point?
2007-01-22 10:41:28 · answer #5 · answered by easternvesper 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Everyone knew he was one of Hitler's youth, but no one cared, I do not know about that Buddhism remark though.
2007-01-22 10:45:12 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
I think that he was in the Hitler Youth. The Hitler Youth was cool--it's too bad that Deutschland lost WW2.
2007-01-22 10:46:38 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
He was a member but no voluntarily. He quit the organization at the first chance he got.
(Besides lots of those kids were kind of brain washed. Not sure if its fair to assume that they lived the rest of their lives in that.)
2007-01-22 10:48:28 · answer #8 · answered by rostov 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
As were almost all German people of the same age. I have little time for this or any other Pope but your comment is disingenuous
2007-01-22 10:36:56 · answer #9 · answered by fourmorebeers 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋
i heard the same thing that you heard about him being a memeber of some hitler nazi group i don't know about that last part about buddhism
2007-01-22 10:37:59 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋