Gosh, does one have to read all of that thread/article in order to be able to comment on it?
I have been pretty much in agreement with the Vatican on a lot of political stuff for most of my grown up adult life.
I seriously depart on the Israel stuff.
I also depart when the German priest now Pope asks the stupidest question ever presented in my lifetime.
"Why did God allow the Holocaust to happen?"
This fellow ought to ask his relatives, friends, school associates, and neighbors that question. Not to mention his henchmen in the Vatican.
What a joke.
What a joke... If you do not read you will never be able to know, much less to understand, the position of the Pope or the Catholic Church in such important matters.
The Founders of the State of Israel expressed their condolences at the death of Pius XII
Among those who mourned the death of Pius XII pronouncing heartfelt tributes were the President of Israel Ben-Zevi, Dr. Nahum Goldmann, president of the World Jewish Congress and the World Zionist Organization, and many Rabbis including Dr. Israel Goldstein of New York. Rabbi Elio Toaff, Chief Rabbi of Rome, said: “More than anyone else, we have had the opportunity to appreciate the great kindness, filled with compassion and magnanimity, that the Pope displayed during the terrible years of persecution and terror, when it seemed that there was no hope left for us.” Rabbi Israel Zolli stated: “What the Vatican did will indelibly and eternally engraved in our hearts…Priests and even high prelates did things that will forever be an honor to Catholicism.” (29)
The Israeli’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mrs.Golda Meir’s cablegram to the Vatican read; “We share in the grief of humanity at the passing away of His Holiness Pope Pius XII. In a generation afflicted by wars and discords, he upheld the highest ideals of peace and compassion. When fearful martyrdom came to our people in the decade of Nazi terror, the voice of the Pope was raised for the victims. The life of our times was enriched by a voice speaking out on the great moral truths above the tumult of daily conflict. We mourn a great servant of peace.” (30)
Unfortunately, today we are witnessing a campaign against this great benefactor of Humanity. His memory is being slandered and dishonored through falsehoods and innuendoes. This matter should be open to honest analysis and discussion. Legitimate discrepancies might exist while studying historical facts, but that should not be of excuse for those people who are moved by the same great evils of ignorance, hatred, and bigotry that made possible the brutal onslaught of innocent people by the Nazis and the Communists.
"Why did God allow the Holocaust to happen?"
The question has been on the lips of millions and millions of people for over 65 years. Sure, the Nazis were responsible, but how did this happen and God stood silent?
Your slam on the Pope for his nationality is cheap, and I think you know it.
Those 'henchmen' of whom you speak saved tens of thousands of Jews during the Holocaust. Italian Jews survived in much greater numbers than their brothers and sisters in Eastern Europe. The Italian Army wasn't that efficient in rounding them up, so it was fairly easy to hide them at first. When the Germans arrived, it became a much more dangerous feat, but was still done by priests, nuns, and regular Catholics all over Italy. One of the Pope's men ran one of the refugee networks right out of the Vatican. For a look at some fictionalized accounts of actual events, check out the movies The Scarlet and the Black and The Assisi Underground. Pius XII spoke out forcefully against Hitler, to the point that the Swiss Guard, even while wearing their colorful Renaissance era outfits, were carrying guns to defend Vatican City and protect the Pontiff.
Pope Benedict's question was not asked because he had no clue about the answer. He was putting forth a question for the listeners to ponder. God allowed it to happen because He made us with Free Will. Some will use that free will, live their lives in accordance with God's teachings and everything will be nice and rosy. Some, however, will use that free will, reject the teachings of God, and set themselves up as gods. This is what Hitler did with his Third Reich. He considered Germany a new 'Roman Empire' and himself the new emperor. The Pope was using the question to point out the danger when we turn from God's direction; we can begin to justify almost any behavior which we might choose.