Saturday, August 19, 2006

Pius XII an anti-semite?

Quote from a non-Catholic at Theology Review:
"...Well look to the Nazi's and how the Pope turned a blind eye to the destruction of the Jews back then. "
I have looked, and what you affirm is incorrect, according to even the Jews themselves.

The day after the election of Pope Pius XII, the Nazi newspaper Berliner Morganpost stated: "the election of Cardinal Pacelli is not accepted with favor in Germany because he was always opposed to Nazism." (March 3, 1939, emphasis added).

The New York Times (December 25, 1942) stated regarding Pius XII's stance against the Nazis: "The voice of Pius XII is a lonely voice in the silence and darkness enveloping Europe this Christmas...He is about the only ruler left on the Continent of Europe who dares to raise his voice at all."

Even the Nazi's themselves understood Pius XII to be their enemy. After the Pope Pius XII's Christmas message, a Gestapo report asserted: "in a manner never known before...the Pope has repudiated the National Socialist New European Order [Nazism]. It is true, the Pope does not refer to the National Socialists in Germany by name, but his speech is one long attack on everything we stand for. …Here he is clearly speaking on behalf of the Jews."

In September 1945, Dr. Joseph Nathan—who represented the Hebrew Commission—stated "Above all, we acknowledge the Supreme Pontiff and the religious men and women who, executing the directives of the Holy Father, recognized the persecuted as their brothers and, with great abnegation, hastened to help them, disregarding the terrible dangers to which they were exposed."

In 1958, at the death of Pope Pius XII, Golda Meir sent the following message: "We share in the grief of humanity. …When fearful martyrdom came to our people, the voice of the Pope was raised for its victims. The life of our times was enriched by a voice speaking out about great moral truths above the tumult of daily conflict. We mourn a great servant of peace."

God bless,

Dave