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Welcome to The Pope Benedict XVI Forum
The Pope Benedict XVI Fan Club invites your participation in our open, yet civil and (hopefully) respectful discussion of topics by and about Pope Benedict XVI and general issues in Catholic faith & theology. Members, please acquaint yourself with our FORUM RULES -- failure to abide by the rules will result in warnings from the moderator and possible expulsion by the management. |
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 Christopher Perrins |
Ratzinger and the Nazis |
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Posts: 1 09/15/03 13:34:57 |
In your sparse biography of Ratzinger you have missed out the fact that he was a member of the Hitler Youth in Nazi Germany during WWII. Neither did Ratzinger resist the draft, choosing to work for the Nazi army rather than claim status as a Conscientious Objector (as Jehovah's Witnesses did in Ratzinger's home town). Ratzinger made no attempt to assist in the resistance in his hometown.
Regards Christopher Perrins |
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blostopher |
Re: Ratzinger and the Nazis | #1 | ||
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Member
Posts: 390 09/15/03 22:22:14 |
We dealt with this a while ago, actually in a post to the blog.
The story that Ratzinger was a member of the Hitler Youth is true. It's a biographical fact that seems to have circulated on many a mailing list, and seems to surface at precisely opportune times when the Prefect finds himself in the media's spotlight. From the way it has been presented one might assume this is one of those skeletons the Cardinal keeps tucked away in his closet (next to his executioner's axe and the token heads of Hans Kung, Matthew Fox, Leonardo Boff & Charles Curran). The truth is that Ratzinger himself mentions in Milestones: Memoirs: 1927 - 1977 that he and his brother George were both enrolled in the Hitler Youth (at a time when membership was compulsory), and discusses family life under the Third Reich in chapters 2-4 of his autobiography. Likewise, John Allen Jr., journalist for the National Catholic Reporter and author of 2002's biography of the Cardinal Ratzinger: The Vatican's Enforcer of the Faith supplies the historical details sorely lacking in some of the more tabloid-esque articles on the Cardinal:
"The Vatican's Enforcer", National Catholic Reporter, April 16, 1999. http://www.natcath.com/NCR_Online/archives/041699/041699a.htm |
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peter22 |
Re: Ratzinger and the Nazis | #2 | ||
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Posts: 1 09/29/03 03:08:14 |
I'm not concerned with Ratzinger's past, what frightens me is his current position. When he says that
"Those who seek the truth find themselves objectively on the path that leads to Christ" (www.ratzingerfanclub.com/...sion.html) He seems to me to be, in the name of fighting a Nazi-like perspective of the world, in fact contributing to it in our own time. This is because, whenever we look at History, it becomes apparent that oppressive and manipulative societies were created by the lack of fundamental freedom and respect for others' opinions, and not so much because 'they had (not) the truth'. There were periods of great freedom in Greece and India, and there were periods of great oppression in catholic Europe, and among Jewish people, and among people from other religions, at times when theology was quite developed. Jesus showed us that there were only two central commandments, and both of them had the word 'love' on top. He didn't tell us to study theology and dwell on the mysteries of the trinity. Much less that the ones who did should have authority over others. I can't see that anywhere in the Gospels. Unfortunately, we are still being deceived by the promise of exaltation and of 'being of special help', of grandeur, that being in the possession of 'The Truth' purportedly brings. Instead of becoming better lovers we bind ourselves to judge others and to become an instrument, not of love, but of condemnation and oppression. It is not the past that frightens me. It is the repetition of the past. |
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The Prophet |
Furher Ratzinger | #3 | ||
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Posts: 29 04/01/04 12:42:38 Banned User |
Gentlemen, Finally some other enlightened people who see Ratzinger as his true self. It is extremely upsetting to see how one man can do such damage to the Church in such a short time. He demands that all priests be deified and that the Church should return to its stale and corrupt Pre Vatican II standing. Catholic laity should be very wary of this ex Nazi turned cleric background and how he is trying to create his own Catholic Church. It is time for all laity to unite and demand his removal at once. That way we can follow the message of Jesus who foretold the downfall of the priesthood of his day, the priesthood of today should be concerned as they are heading down the same path.
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semperidem |
Fuhrer Ratzinger? | #4 | ||
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Posts: 110 04/01/04 18:01:00 |
Hmm. Perhaps we should look closely at the argument. We know that priests are absolutely necessary to confect the sacraments, including of course the sacrament of Penance. Imagine what the world would be like without the chance of forgiveness of sins! If Ratzinger seeks to restore the priesthood to a prior understanding, it is only an attempt to remind us of what is objectively true. We NEED priests. The next time you see one, or think of one, give thanks to God that someone listened to His call. Otherwise we could not have our sins forgiven and could not take within ourselves the Lord of Life.
Can we OVERemphasize the importance of priests? No. |
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The Prophet |
Learn to Read | #5 | ||
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Posts: 29 04/07/04 15:58:47 Banned User |
Semperdieum
The stupidity that comes out in your letters continues to amaze me. We were talking about Ratzinger, the Nazi, and the way he is misguiding the Church back to its roots in the Middle Ages. He goes totally against the teaching of Vatican II ,and has created a Church in his own twisted image. It is time for him to go now! Re read the Gospels again so you can learn all that Jesus said about forgiving of sins. It is the poorly educated Ratzinger supporters like yourself that are destroying what the Catholic Church was envisioned to become through the changes of Vatican II |
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semperidem |
New Testament and forgiveness .. and my NAME | #6 | ||
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Posts: 110 04/12/04 09:55:24 |
Sir:
You seem unable to type my name properly. For the purposes of this list it is semperidem (Latin for "always the same", and the Episcopal Motto of Ratzinger's predecessor once removed, Cardinal Alfredo Ottaviani). Now, let's look at the New Testament on forgiveness of sin. He says to the Pharisees who came to stone Mary Magdalen "Let he who is without sin cast the first stone". He said to Peter and the Apostolic College "Receive the Holy Spirit: Whose sins YOU forgive, they are forgiven them, and whose sins YOU retain, they are retained". He further said to Peter "Whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in Heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in Heaven", and in another place "You are Peter, and upon this rock I will build My Church, and the gates of Hell shall not prevail against her." He also taught, by parables, that the publican who was truly sorry went away justified, while the one who thanked God for not being like those dirty tax collectors did not. Let's see what God taught us: The Church, through the apostolic mission of Christ's hand-picked successors, has the power to forgive sin AND not to do so. Peter (the first Pope) is the guarantor of the Catholic Faith, being the visible head of the Church on earth. We must not condemn others if, in our pride, we imagine ourselves superior to them. None of this is contravened by the work of Cardinal Ratzinger. Lest you take me for some ignorant rube or some cultured throwback, please be aware that I am not claiming that I have all the answers, only that the answers exist. Furthermore, I can't want wistfully to return to a time when I wasn't. I am a convert and a young man. My comments about the priesthood were entirely apropos as a response to your unfounded and mistaken claims about the work Ratzinger is apparently trying to do. Your attack amounted not to an attack on Ratzinger but on what he vigorously defends. Again, your argument isn't with Ratzinger but with the Church he defends. Please, let us refrain from personalized attacks since we don't know each other. |
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The Prophet |
Reading Errors | #7 | ||
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Posts: 29 05/12/04 11:04:18 Banned User |
Semperidem
First if you are going to quote scripture get the historical context straight. There was no Roman Catholic Church at the time of Christ, that was to come much later in time. Jesus also said to "forgive a person seven time seventy". There is only one being with the power to be all forgiving and that is God. Second, that scripture you quoted has been used out of context by priests to justify the need for confession, which was not a practice until the middle ages. Jesus was telling his apostles that they were empowered to perform healings if they felt the person was remorseful or not and that was all. The Church in the Middle Ages then created an elaborate sacramental ritual that was totally out of context with that scripture. If you read the Bible with clarity and also understand the history of the Catholic Church then the false doctrines become quite clear. No, priests are not the only ones who can forgive sins, we all have the power to forgive, but only God has the final word. My anger with Ratzinger is that the Catholic Church for the first time in its history was beginning to amend and change many of its antiquated and false doctrines of the Middle Ages. Ratzinger has been fighting all of these efforts, and for that I am positive that God will not forgive him at his time of judgement. The Catholic Church will one day regain its true place as a religious leader, after Ratzinger and all of his kind have passed on. Catholics must become better educated to the truth in Scripture and in Church doctrine and not become blind followers of a few misguided Catholic clergy as apparently you have my friend. Pax ! |
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galantarie |
Re: Reading Errors | #8 | ||
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Member
Posts: 4476 08/25/05 12:00:21 Member |
Here is Documented Proof of Our Papa's innocence.
How any of this survived the War is a miracle in itself! see the video footage and READ the page as well!  Ratzinger conscripted into German airforce |
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Marybenedict |
Re: Reading Errors | #9 | ||
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Member
Posts: 745 08/25/05 14:18:15 |
Well done, Galantarie!
He had nothing to do with the Nazis, other than what he was forced to do. Hitler Youth membership became compulsory - he signed the paper, but never went to a meeting. Same with the army - there was no such thing as being a "conscientious objector" in Germany!!!!!!! In England - yes - because we were a democracy. Germany was a totalitarian dictatorship. If Joseph Ratzinger had not nominally conformed he'd have been killed. So, he just did what he was forced to do. He hated it. I don't know why these people have made so much of it. Got to find something to hold against him...........because in fact there is nothing against this holy, wonderful man. I've never been happier than I've been since April 19th 2005! Thanks again, Galantarie! Love and Peace in Jesus Christ! Mary x |
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Sara Virginia |
Re: Reading Errors | #10 | ||
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Posts: 770 08/25/05 15:03:38 |
Not to mention that Joseph Ratzinger was one of the participants, theologians and architects of the Vatican II conference- I don't see how he could have been that as well as be against it! He was 14 when drafted into Hitler youth - and only a teen when sent to the big draft. In my view, not too much a young, fairly sheltered fellow could do - which would not have brought death or imprisonment to himself and his family.
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