Why has the Vatican never excommunicated Hitler?

Question

Yes he was a Catholic

Answer 1

Because he was only killing Jews.

Sad but true.

Answer 2

The Catholic Encyclopedia states:

"Since excommunication is the forfeiture of the spiritual privileges of ecclesiastical society, all those, but those only, can be excommunicated who, by any right whatsoever, belong to this society. Consequently excommunication can be inflicted only on baptized and living persons."

Apparently, they are absolved from taking action because Hitler is no longer alive. Why this wasn't done before he committed suicide like a coward, I don't know.

EDIT: To "Depthofperception," I've read Mein Kampf and reject Hitler's claim that he was a Christian. I suppose you believe everything you read? Actually, Hitler was a pagan who hated Christians. He once stated that Europe was better before Christianity and syphilis arrived; he also stated that pagans were destined to eradicate Christianity. Do a bit more reading and you'll see that what I'm writing is true.

Answer 3

He excommunicated himself. People must understand he held the entire European Church by the short-hairs basically with his threats against the Church. Even so many many Catholics were destroyed in the death-camps too. More Jewish people were saved by the efforts of the Catholics than any other denomination during the war. The Bishops received an underground communication to hide the Jewish people and such and do as much as they could after their attempts at reading direct anti- Nazi letters from the pulpit resulted in mass persecution of the Catholics. The Church was in a very difficult position. This kind of thing is what prepared Pope John Paul II for his heroic part in the bringing down of Communism

Answer 4

He was only a self-proclaimed Catholic - that certainly did not make him one.

Well, I have read (but cannot provide citations) that the conference of German bishops excommunicated all Nazis in 1930 and in the 1932 elections told Catholics not to vote for a Nazi.

Whether Hitler was personally formally excommunicated doesn't matter - the whole purpose of excommunication is to help the sinner recognize the seriousness of his sins so he will seek forgiveness and return to the Church. To someone like Hitler, who didn't believe in the truth of Christianity, excommunication would be of no concern. He had already put himself outside of the Church.

Answer 5

Interesting question. Do people believe that Hitler is enjoying heaven at this moment. I don't think so. So that causes the question of "why not" to be asked. He was a Catholic and considered himself a good Catholic. According to Catholic Church doctrine, he became a member of the Catholic faith as a child when he was christened and upon completion of his confirmation was considered bound for heaven. I would think that this would make people question the validity of the teachings of the Catholic Church where someone like Hitler could supposedly make it to heaven by following all of the church "rules" instead of having his heart changed by the acceptance of the Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. While it's true that if Hitler made it to heaven, the rest of us ought to be a shoo in, I really have to reconsider a teaching that requires no more of it's adherents than to cross the t's and dot the i's of man made membership requirements.

Answer 6

It doesn't need to. Hitler was not a practicing Catholic. He was baptized Catholic and it ends there.

The Vatican only excommunicates people who claim to be Catholic, receiving Eucharist, and say that what they are doing is in line with the teachings of the Church. Hitler never said that or did that. He was not a Catholic nor was he a Christian.

There are many baptized Catholics in this world who are not Catholic. Being Catholic has nothing to do with what you were baptized as...it has everything to do with following the teachings of Christ and of the Church.

Answer 7

the Vatican actually supported Hitler..as if an omen from god to show this the current pope was a Nazi soldier under Hitler.... it's the roman catholic church that introduced the concepts of good and evil.... what a way to hide evil being the first to define good and evil... there are omens guiding us that teaches that evil does exist among us and that is in the form of religions... especially those formed through the bible....think about it.... it's against the catholic laws to ever be innocent because it's a sin to be human.... but human is what nature made you... and to nature if you are human you are wonderful and should be free....and peaceful...

Answer 8

because of the fact merely being baptized Catholic does no longer make you one. He replaced into no longer a training Catholic. He did no longer upward push up and say he replaced into Catholic and what he replaced into doing replaced into ok as a Catholic. The Church excommunicates people who're heretics...this suggests they flow against God and/or the Church all the at a similar time as professing to be genuine Catholics. Hitler did no longer try this. merely because of the fact somebody replaced into baptized Catholic (as many in R&S can attest to) it does no longer lead them to Catholic in any way shape or form. in accordance to what i've got examine, Hitler had Jewish blood in him besides...it is not mandatory for the Jewish church to make a fact against Hitler is it? To denounce him as a Jew? i think of a similar is going for the Catholic church. no one in all their suited techniques could ever think of that Hitler replaced right into a training and undemanding Catholic.

Answer 9

HE WASN'T A CATHOLIC. He was baptized Catholic. He was a pagan. Was Lenin a Jew? Jesus was born Jewish, yet you call him an apostate. Same goes for St. Paul, St. Peter, St. Stephen, and the rest of the early Christian martyrs. All of whom considered themselves Jewish.

Answer 10

Those who say that Hitler was not a Christian never read Mein Kampf... it is nothing but Christian nonsense. Hitler was hardcore christian and killed atheists in the concentration camps.

Christians sure act like they know everything but are so ignorant of history. To say he was not a christian is passing judgment on him. Isn't that forbidden? He fully believed in Jesus and God and felt that he was on a mission from God. Who are you to say he was not a Xian? Just because you think so? Per the bible believing in Jesus Christ makes you a christian, you are not saved by actions but by faith alone.

Do you even know your own religion?

Answer 11

Hitler is Pagan and the Vatican came from the Pagan. Some of the doctrines and teachings of the catholics came from Pagan doctrines and teachings.
jtm