[rmlew]

It’s a nice ad hominem. False, in so far as Pat is a committed Catholic. But where is he wrong here?

[nickcarraway]

How do you know he's a committed Catholic? Perhaps he is, but this is a rare case where I question the validity of his commitment. First of all, he is willing to overlook the murder of millions of Catholics. Perhaps that's not a theological issue, but I wonder how he can overlook it. Secondly, Popes are not infallible in geopolitics, but the degree to which he sweeps under the rug what Pius XII said and did is interesting. Most importantly, his whole argument blaming everyone but Nazi Germany ignore the suppression and hostility by Hitler. Pius XI and the future Pius XII took the extraordinary step of writing an encyclical, Mit Brennender Sorge, in German, not Latin. The Nazi's, quite rightly, took great offense to it.

All in all, I suppose some argument could be made that one is a, "committed Catholic," but would not care to defend the lives and rights to practice Catholicism of others, but just barely. I have my doubts. Personally, I think Buchanan's position is despicable, and he give anti-Catholics a bad name.

[nickcarraway]

I forgot one thing: It's very clear that Hitler intended to kidnap Pius XII and hold him prisoner, perhaps kill him. No doubt Mr. Buchanan knows that, and apparently does not find it to be a reason to doubt Hitler's character and trustworthiness. The Pope was doing nothing to impede Hitler from having his precious Danzig, the need for which excuses all other actions.

Again, maybe there are committed Catholics willing to overlook the kidnapping of the Pope. On the other hand, maybe people who think that's a justifiable hint are crazy.

Sadly, Mr Buchanan has traded his Catholicism for a deranged leftism, or something even more bizarre.