[A. Pole]

I figure that if John Paul II could forgive then-Cardinal Ratzinger and take him into his confidence

John Paul II was not a moron and he would never blame or "forgive" anybody for "joining" as a child the youth organization in a totalitarian state.

[Capriole]

You're right--maybe "forgive" isn't the right word. I never suggested that the late Holy Father would ever have blamed the current pope for his service in the German Army, knowing how reluctant it was and knowing also that he deserted. I just meant if he could let it go,even though his country had been at war with Germany, so could all the critics who carp about it.