Papal hopeful is a former Hitler Youth

timesonline.co.uk ^ | 4-17-05 | Justin Sparks

[TXBSAFH]

In all fairness backin the 1940's in Germany over 80% of the children were in the Hilter Youth. It was mandatory then. If you went to school you were in it.

I do not think this should be held against him, but you know some on the left will use it to bash the Holy See.

[clintonh8r]

What a surprise! The media smear begins against one of the most conservative of the cardinals. Why should the Godless media have any influence over the process?

[wideawake]

(1) Ratzinger's father, Joseph Ratzinger was a vocal opponent of the Nazis - his sons were forced into the HJ to punish him.

(2) Ratzinger was a reluctant inductee who never saw action.

[B Knotts]

It's obvious this is little more than a "hit piece" on Cardinal Ratzinger.

This sentence, for instance, is entirely false, and tries to confuse several issues:

His condemnations are legion - of women priests, married priests, dissident theologians and homosexuals, whom he has declared to be suffering from an "objective disorder".

[G.Mason]

Yawn ... Call Jimmah Carter. He's in charge of voting.

[TXBSAFH]

Yeah I agree this is at least in part if the in whole a media drive by to try to get a liberal pope. I pray that we get another John Paul II.

[G.Mason]

" Why should the Godless media have any influence over the process?"

Pssst! ... They don't.

[HamiltonJay]

Nearly any child in Germany was a Hitler Youth at the time this man was a child... Personally I'm hoping for a hard core African Pope.. one who has first hand seen the devastation of promescuity, war, inhumanity in recent memory... not some social justice type from the western world.

I have faith that the Holy Spirit will guide the Cardinals and the right man will be selected in the end.

[Rutles4Ever]

I can't wait for the fecal-slinging that will take place if Ratzinger is elected pope. Oliver Stone is licking his chops.

[onyx]

One liberal theologian,when asked what he thought of a Ratzinger papacy, was more direct: “It fills me with horror.”




LOL! This guy's in for horror then
because these Cardinals are JPII's.

[Preachin']

In my (non-Catholic) opinion, Ratzinger will be voted in for several reasons.

He seems to be most like John Paul II, since he had the important job of ensuring the doctrine was properly taught.

His age does not make him a threat to others, since his likelihood of serving over five years seems so unlikely.

This conclave will give some of the lesser-known Cardinals time to become known by the others.

Also, I believe the next conclave (assuming Ratzinger gets in) will receive the nastiest media coverage ever.

[Unam Sanctam]

I think whichever pundit said the MSM has built up Ratzinger expectations in order to be able to tear him down was right.

[worldclass]

A former boss of mine was in Hitler Youth. He couldn't help it and wasn't proud of it. It just happened. He is also one of the nicest, most intelligent people I know.

[TXBSAFH]

The more they rag on this guy the more I like him. I figure if they do not like him he can't be all bad.

[AmishDude]

Man, what is Ratzinger, a Republican? I mean, you really don't see this kind of opposition research outside of the Democratic party, do you?

[onyx]

His homily last night was superb.
I agree with you, the more I see
of him, the more I like him too.

[wagglebee]

This is a pathetic smear campaign. Ratzinger does not advertise this, but he has never made it a secret either. The left seems to forget that the German people were captive victims of Hitler. If an American was favored I expect we would be reading about how he was once in a fanatical right-wing militant movement known as the BOY SCOUTS OF AMERICA.

[Gefreiter]

"Papal hopeful is a former Hitler Youth"

Holy crap! He was a Nazi!

Until you get to this sentence, buried about halfway through:

"He joined the Hitler Youth aged 14, shortly after membership was made compulsory in 1941."

Then he didn't choose to join, he HAD to. What a non-story.

And I believe the other posters who mention the scale of membership in these youth orgs. I had a prof who was in the young fascists or whatever, in Italy, when he was like 6. Big deal.