During WWII, the Church organized an extensive underground network for sheltering Jews from NAZI persecution. In the postwar chaos, the same network was used to shelter families targeted for revenge killing by Communist partisans. Mussolini and his mistress were famously lynched by Communists along with many others who did not escape. Even if revenge seems justified, the Church cannot condone lawless killing.
The Holocaust Museum-proposed fishing expedition through Vatican archives could fuel monetary lawsuits against the Church if her records contain evidence of sheltering officials who cooperated with NAZI occupation. The United States brought over NAZIs in Operation Paperclip and Israel never turned away Warsaw Ghetto Jewish police or similar NAZI collaborators. The Holocaust Museum should request US and Israeli postwar secret archives to establish proper context before demanding the Vatican provide the same.
What an amazing statement made by the US Holcaust Memorial Museum. However, if you think deeper, it’s not so amazing.
Most of the Board Members of the Museum are Obama supporters. So it makes sense that they ignore the actions that are endorsed by many Jewish and Israeli statesman and citizens about the over 800,000 Jewish men,women and children saved by the Catholic Church and the Pope. It makes ironic sense that they ignore the reality of actions and focus on the Pope’s “silence” on the issue at the time.
A great speech would have made all the diffence in the world. Just look at all that Obama has accomplished. In the past few days he has spoken like a school lecturer about cutting government spending. The policy of being on pace for a $1.8 Trillion annual budget deficit matters not. But oh that speech.
I’m afraid the Museum Board Members appear to be “selling controversey”, with the “Nazi Pope” myth. In my opinion their actions are profane.
If they would be more neutral on the subject by admitting that the process to open the archives is underway, while at least mentioning addmissions from Israeli statesmen regarding the known good the Pope did, then their “statement” which amounts to dreadful aspersions, wouldn’t look so preposterous.
They need to be reminded they are selling the reality of history and not carnival tickets.