If the Holiest Catholic is an unrepentant member of Hitler Youth, what does that say about the rest?

Question

Does that mean Hitler Youth was chosen by God?

Fr. Matthew Fox also has questions, but MSNBC pulled the plug on him.

Here are a couple:

1. If you denounced Hitler, why do you support today the Spanish priest Escriva who admired him publicly and why did you rush Escriva, founder of the Opus Dei movement, into canonization, thus leaving the impression that fascism is a path to holiness?

2. If you denounced Hitler, why do you carry on in his ways such as 1) bookburning and denouncing of thinkers and theologians? 2) whipping up hostility toward homosexuals as he did? 3) excluding women from all decision-making and leadership? 4) creating scapegoats, including people of religions other than Catholic along with women and gay people?



http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0MKY/is_8_29/ai_n13810147

Answer 1

Hello,

Like they say, b ullshit baffles brains.

Nazi Germany was a dictatorship and millions were forced into groups they did not want to be in. The penalty for not serving in the German army was not 400 hours community service like American draft dodgers who ran to Canada got but was death.

In short you cannot brand a person a Nazi who was forced into Hitler Youth programs and the army. To become a Nazi party official member you had to show uncontaminated racial lineage, pay dues and membership fees like any other party today.

Cheers,

Michael Kelly

Answer 2

You assume too much. You are assuming Pope Benedict is unrepentant about his involvement in the Hitler Youth. The Truth is, you can't know how he truly feels about it because you cannot read his mind nor his heart. In such circumstances, the prudent person gives the benefit of the doubt. It's best you give Pope Benedict the benefit of the doubt, otherwise you will deserve what comes to you the next time one does not extend you that same benefit.

NOTE: You are ignoring the fact the Pope, as a youth, was drafted into the Hitler Youth. He was not a volunteer. You should also know that his family was forced to move from one part of the Reich to another because his family was so outspoken about the evils of Nazism.

It says nothing about the rest of Catholics. Don't tell me you are levying a blanket condemnation on all Catholics simply because of one. In other words, hating Catholics simply because they are Catholics? That's not too different from what drove the Nazi's to do what they did; hating the Jews simply because they were Jews.

Answer 3

One of the reasons that the Pope joined the priesthood was because he saw the atrocities of the Nazi Party.

What does it say about Christianity that God chose a man who persecuted Christians to be the Apostle to the Gentiles?

Monsignor Vladimir Felzmann, a former Opus Dei priest and confidant of Escrivá's, claims to have overheard the Prelature's founder tell a close friend several controversial statements. Felzmann sent several letters to Father Flavio Capucci, overseeing the preceedings of the nine judges of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints. The letters were reviewed and later ignored due to Felzmann's previous statements of admiration for Escrivá. On the other hand, Álvaro del Portillo, the former Prelate of Opus Dei, said that any claims that Escrivá supported Hitler were "a patent falsehood," that were part of "a slanderous campaign". He and others have stated that Escrivá regarded Hitler as a "pagan", a "racist" and a "tyrant"

Answer 4

You have no proof that Pope Benedict is unrepentant. If my information is correct, he didn't even want to be a member of Hitler Youth (lets remember that Hitler was an evil dictator and forced people to do things they didn't want to). Second, the pope is not the "Holiest Catholic" just because he is the pope. He is a human, just like everyone else, and only God knows who the holiest person on earth is. Also, the Catholic Church and Catholics strongly condemn Hitler's regime and actions. Enough said.

Answer 5

The "holiest Catholic" is likely to be a mission worker somewhere in the world, taking care of people's needs in complete obscurity and known only to a few -- but showing the love of Christ to all he/she meets.

As far as popes are concerned, the Church has survived many who were far less holy than Benedict XVI. The only relevance his early youth experience with Nazism has today is that those who oppose the Church love to seize upon it, as if it proves something.

No one is qualified to judge either him, or the obscure missionary.

Answer 6

Reference to the current Pope? The spiritual leader of all Catholics? Not much!
Of course, you must realize MOST Catholics abhor Hitler and all his "teachings" so what Pope Benedict XVI did in his youth cannot be said to be an accurate reflection of Catholics today. (I am not a fan of the religion,but fair is only fair.)

Answer 7

So you don't like Pope Benedict? Or is it all popes? I can give you lots of stories that past popes have done. Point is, a Pope is a man, just like all the other members of his church. He is only taken at faith value when he speaks "ex cathedra".

Answer 8

Benedict 16 is a heretic not a pope, he was excommunicated by his own judgment.

Pope Michael 1st is truly the Bishop of Rome.

Answer 9

Do you have a source for that? Especially the 'unrepentant' bit?

Answer 10

In spite of his Nazi background, the current Pope is much saintlier than Saint Paul! For bad or worse Saint Paul is an example of the trasnsforming power of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Before his conversion Saint Paul was a vicious persecuter of the followers of Jesus Christ. He had many of them put to death. He must have left behind a whole bunch of orphans and widows, too. He is very much fond of the Roman authorities who "don't carry the sword in vain". He is confessing to them about his past murderous lifestyle, but not to the church (Acts 26:9-11). Saint Paul never repented for his past conduct. He just calls it "dung".

Philippians 3:8 (KJV) Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but DUNG, that I may win Christ,

Now that Saint Paul is a Christian he is showing his true sadistic nature towards women. He is the only Bible writer damming all lesbians. Also, he is now in position to write the rules for the widows that he must have left behind. Basically he is ruling that that the young widows under 60 years of age including the ones that he must have left behing receive no help whatsoever from the church because they can get horny very easily (even at 60!) and they want to get married again!

I Timothy 5:9,11-13 (NIV) No widow may be put on the list of widows unless she is OVER SIXTY, has been faithful to her husband, (11-13) As for younger widows, do not put them on such a list. For when their sensual desires overcome their dedication to Christ, they want to marry. Thus they bring judgment on themselves, because they have broken their first pledge. Besides, they get into the habit of being idle and going about from house to house. And not only do they become idlers, but also gossips and busybodies, saying things they ought not to.

If any of you is a young widow like some of the young widows that Saint Paul must have left behind in his past life you ought to know that God the Holy Ghost inspired Saint Paul to reveal to all of us that you get horny very easily, and that you are a gossip, and a busibody, and what have you... SO, NO HELP FROM THE CHURCH FOR YOU unless you are over 60 and wash my feet when I visit you you can be 80 for that matter! It is all written in the infallible Word of God!

I am sure that the Pope forgot his past life with the Nazis, too... so did Saint Paul... for the glory of God!

Philippians 3:13 (NIV) Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: FORGETTING WHAT IS BEHIND and straining toward what is ahead,

Atta boy Saint Paul!!! You sure know how to screw the young widows under 60 years of age that you must have left behind! Your defense still flies today! Long live the Pope!!! The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with you all! Amen?