Posted on 04/18/2008 6:40:10 AM PDT by paterfamilias
Maher to Apologize for Calling Pope a 'Nazi' By Melanie Hunter-Omar CNSNews.com Senior Editor April 17, 2008
(CNSNews.com) - Liberal talk show host Bill Maher, whose controversial comments about the pope drew fire from the Catholic community, is planning to apologize Friday night for falsely accusing Pope Benedict XVI of being a Nazi, the Catholic League announced Thursday.
Catholic League President Bill Donohue received a phone call Thursday from an HBO executive regarding comments Maher made last Friday on HBO's "Real Time With Bill Maher."
As Cybercast News Service previously reported, Donohue said Maher "lied when he said the Pope 'used to be a Nazi.' Like all young men in Germany at the time, he was conscripted into a German Youth organization (from which he fled as soon as he could). Every responsible Jewish leader has acknowledged this reality and has never sought to brand the Pope a Nazi. That job falls to Maher."
Apparently HBO agreed with Donohue's assessment. "Apparently, now Maher does as well. Ergo, the apology," Donohue said.
So will the Catholic League accept Maher's apology?
"Assuming it comes across as genuine, the answer is yes. But I hasten to add that what we would really like to see is for Maher to stop with his hateful diatribes against the Catholic Church. So this is a start, but it hardly puts to rest our concerns," said Donohue.
"After all, there are plenty of factually accurate things Maher could say about other groups that would insult its members, but he chooses not to go there. Perhaps he can add Catholics and the Catholic Church to that protected list as well," he added.
The understanding of history displayed here is laughably inept.
Yes, that does seem to be true.
By 1943, Nazi leaders began turning the Hitler Youth into a military reserve to draw manpower which had been depleted due to tremendous military losses. In 1943, the 12.SS-Panzer-Division Hitlerjugend, under the command of SS-Brigadeführer Fritz Witt, was formed. The Division was a fully equipped Waffen-SS panzer division, with the majority of the enlisted cadre being drawn from Hitler Youth boys between the ages of sixteen and eighteen. The division was deployed during the Battle of Normandy against the British and Canadian forces to the north of Caen. During the following months, the division earned itself a reputation for ferocity and fanaticism. When Witt was killed by allied naval gunfire, SS-Brigadeführer Kurt Meyer took over command and became the youngest divisional commander at age 33.
March 20, 1945. Hitler awards the Iron Cross to Hitler Youth outside his bunker. A member of HJ aged 13 captured by the U.S. Army near Nartinzell in 1945As German casualties mounted with the combination of Operation Bagration and the Lvov-Sandomierz Operation in the east, and Operation Cobra in the west, members of the Hitlerjugend were recruited at ever younger ages. By 1945, the Volkssturm was commonly drafting 12-year-old Hitler Youth members into its ranks. During the Battle of Berlin, Axmann's Hitler Youth formed a major part of the last line of German defense, and were reportedly among the fiercest fighters.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hitler_Youth
That level of hatred is a sickness. I will pray for your recovery.
Any man who would take the title given to God needs the prayers.
Holy father is the name that Christ calls God the Father (Jn.17:11), it belongs to no man.
All have sinned and come short of the glory of God-Rom.3:23.
You allow a man to take the glory that belongs only to God and you call me sick?
When did Peter ever allow any man to get on his knees to him?
Catholicism is simply paganism with a veneer of Christianity on it.
You're kidding, aren't you?
If not, you're more than welcome to join my class next year, as I venture into my 11th year of teaching Old Testament to the sixth graders of my parish.
The purpose behind the class is to help them understand the traditions of the Old Testament, and how they translate into their lives, and their Catholic faith.
During our lessons, we encounter a multitude of stories how the Hebrews lost their way, often worshiping pagan gods, and the consequences that arose from that. For me to agree with your statement would be a repudiation of everything I've taught over the past 10 years, not to mention the entirety of my theological education at Gonzaga University. You're welcome to your opinion, though.
Shalom aleichem!
Yes, Doc, just spread the blame. Calvin is as guilty as the Catholics. In fact, he’s the equivalent of an SS officer.
“Catholicism is simply paganism with a veneer of Christianity on it.”
You know, you’re absolutely right. Let’s take the Cross of Salvation and use it as a club on other Christians.
I truly don’t understand why you and the like-minded need to bash other sects. If you are assured of your salvation, why not rejoice in that and pray for others “less enlightened” instead of engaging in the incessant attacks? How does tearing down all the good that has been achieved by Catholics over the centuries further the cause of Christ?
Is it the need to be right? Is it jealousy over the success of Catholicism? Is it insceurity in your own faith that drives you to try to discredit the faith of others?
You know, I confess that I should never have responded to Doc’s initial vilification of the Pope. What has followed, and I admit my part in it, is the basest manifestation of what must unfortunately be called Christianity.
I am going to withdraw from this discussion now, because I feel that I fallen into the error of not loving my neighbor as I should.
Dominus vobiscum.
But unlike the false bishop of Rome, Calvin knew whom he had believed.
He knew there is only one mediator between God and men, Christ Jesus.
He knew that men are saved by free, unmerited grace alone through faith alone in Jesus Christ alone.
He knew that God graciously imputes Christ's righteousness to His flock, not based on their good works which are as "filthy rags" to God, but upon God's good pleasure alone for His glory alone.
And he knew that no man should kneel to anyone other than Christ alone, our only Redeemer, our only dispenser of grace, the only head of His church on earth and in heaven.
And Calvin knew all this because the Holy Spirit made it known to him through God's word.
Thou shalt keep them, O LORD, thou shalt preserve them from this generation for ever." -- Psalm 12:6-7"The words of the Lord are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times.
1943?
Quick! Was young Ratzinger part of the Hitler Youth in 1943? Did he take up arms in the Hitlerjugend? Did he go to any HJ meetings?
No. No. No.
Where did Christ say "Holy Father" is a title exclusive to God the Father?
When did Peter ever allow any man to get on his knees to him?
Who got on their knees to Benedict?
All have sinned and come short of the glory of God-Rom.3:23.
Who has said otherwise?
Uh, the REST of Scripture. The passage you quoted is not ALL that God told us to do.
That is ONE side of the story.
Well, let's see. The math is tricky, I admit, but we push on...
Ratzinger was born in 1927. He joined the Hitler Youth when he was 14 which would be in...1941!
So, the answer is YES, Ratzinger was part of the Hitler Youth in 1943.
As for taking up arms, he did that, too, later that year as a member of the German anti-aircraft corps.
There is no evidence that Ratzinger never attended any meetings other than the fact that no German ever attended any Hitler Youth meetings, never heiled Hitler, never took up arms against the Allies, never swore allegiance to the Der Fuhrer, and never supported the goals of national socialism.
So we're agreed. Ratzinger was just like every other German during W.W.II.
That's not proof, that's an assumption that he remained therein for a set period of time.
As for taking up arms, he did that, too, later that year as a member of the German anti-aircraft corps.
Never fired the weapon, deserted.
There is no evidence that Ratzinger never attended any meetings other than the fact that no German ever attended any Hitler Youth meetings, never heiled Hitler, never took up arms against the Allies, never swore allegiance to the Der Fuhrer, and never supported the goals of national socialism.
Baseless, unsubstantiated slander....your specialty.
Ratzinger joined the anti-aircraft corps in 1943 and deserted (along with half the German army) two years later in 1945.
Those Nazi commanding officers must have been some swell guys to permit one of their soldiers to refuse to fire a shot for two entire years during the height of the war.
slander....your specialty.
Please stop breaking the FR rules by "making this personal."
Ratzinger joined the anti-aircraft corps in 1943...
He was drafted. During that time, the weapon was never fired and he was permitted to continue his studies three days a week. He was discharged from anti-aircraft duty in September 1944. In November he was redrafted into the infantry but missed most of his basic training due to poor health. He deserted near the end of the war.
Those Nazi commanding officers must have been some swell guys to permit one of their soldiers to refuse to fire a shot for two entire years during the height of the war.
Your basic information is a clump of false assumptions and bad will. In other words, baseless, unsubstantiated slander....again.
Uh, the REST of Scripture. The passage you quoted is not ALL that God told us to do.
Agreed, but scripture doesn't contradict and it states very clearly that one must just have faith to be saved (Eph.2:8-9).
Works show ones faith, they do not add anything (Ja.2)
Where did Christ say "Holy Father" is a title exclusive to God the Father?
How about 'call no man father'.
Funny how Catholics also want to know 'where it says something in scripture' but never look for it themselves.
[ When did Peter ever allow any man to get on his knees to him? ]
Who got on their knees to Benedict?
Alot of people, it was on TV.
[ All have sinned and come short of the glory of God-Rom.3:23. ]
Who has said otherwise?
Well, you do when you say Mary was born without sin and you have Popes who people call Holy Father and bow down to.
I made the comment about the Hilter Youth movment which you disputed.
You were shown to be wrong.
Catholics are not going to the Cross of salvation, they are going to the crucifix of damnation.
I truly don’t understand why you and the like-minded need to bash other sects. If you are assured of your salvation, why not rejoice in that and pray for others “less enlightened” instead of engaging in the incessant attacks? How does tearing down all the good that has been achieved by Catholics over the centuries further the cause of Christ?
We do pray for Catholics and that is why we give you the true gospel of salvation.
It is Catholics who take that as being persecuted and slandered!
Is it the need to be right? Is it jealousy over the success of Catholicism? Is it insceurity in your own faith that drives you to try to discredit the faith of others?
No, it is concern for your souls which are going to spend eternity in the Lake of Fire because you rejected the free grace of God.
You know, I confess that I should never have responded to Doc’s initial vilification of the Pope. What has followed, and I admit my part in it, is the basest manifestation of what must unfortunately be called Christianity. I am going to withdraw from this discussion now, because I feel that I fallen into the error of not loving my neighbor as I should. Dominus vobiscum.
Real love for your neighbor is shown by telling them the truth, not ignoring the fact that they are in spiritual bondage.
No such thing was shown.
They were not getting on their knees "to Benedict."
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