Comments on: Let’s Be Fair To Benedict XVI http://blog.z-word.com/2008/10/lets-be-fair-to-benedict-xvi/ Commentary about Zionism, anti-Zionism, antisemitism and the conflict in the Middle East Mon, 21 May 2012 13:36:43 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5-RC1.1 By: In partibus infidelium http://blog.z-word.com/2008/10/lets-be-fair-to-benedict-xvi/#comment-1719 In partibus infidelium Fri, 24 Oct 2008 15:39:31 +0000 http://blog.z-word.com/?p=431#comment-1719 Paula , how do you know the book of which you speak is well researched and strongly argued ? Have you read it? How reliable are its sources? How far are its conclusions conditioned by the religious and political position of the author? Is its tone academic and an attempt to view up the evidence? Does it for example answer the points made by Rabbi Dalin, who belongs to the people who were persecuted by the Nazis, and take into account the experience of the Netherlands where Edith Stein died as part of a reprisal for the utterances of the Dutch bishops? Does it take account of the Amazon review of Dr Dalin's book? As one who looks back on relatives murdered in Auschwitz and Theresianstadt I feel that no good can come of fostering strife. Sober academic research by all means but using a past Pope to attack the present one or to discredit the Church in general should be avioded. Is the book you quote guilty of that? Paula , how do you know the book of which you speak is well researched and strongly argued ? Have you read it? How reliable are its sources? How far are its conclusions conditioned by the religious and political position of the author? Is its tone academic and an attempt to view up the evidence? Does it for example answer the points made by Rabbi Dalin, who belongs to the people who were persecuted by the Nazis, and take into account the experience of the Netherlands where Edith Stein died as part of a reprisal for the utterances of the Dutch bishops? Does it take account of the Amazon review of Dr Dalin’s book?

As one who looks back on relatives murdered in Auschwitz and Theresianstadt I feel that no good can come of fostering strife. Sober academic research by all means but using a past Pope to attack the present one or to discredit the Church in general should be avioded. Is the book you quote guilty of that?

]]> By: In partibus infidelium http://blog.z-word.com/2008/10/lets-be-fair-to-benedict-xvi/#comment-1718 In partibus infidelium Fri, 24 Oct 2008 15:19:19 +0000 http://blog.z-word.com/?p=431#comment-1718 herewih link herewih link

]]> By: Paula http://blog.z-word.com/2008/10/lets-be-fair-to-benedict-xvi/#comment-1710 Paula Fri, 24 Oct 2008 09:48:31 +0000 http://blog.z-word.com/?p=431#comment-1710 Non-Jews and Jews alike have been critical of Pope Pius XII's silence DURING and AFTER the war and have opposed his beatification. Surely, Pope Benedict XVI is aware of this opposition and "might himself have some doubts gnawing away at him as regards whether Pius XII was really such an exemplary Pontiff?". Dirk Verhofstadt, a Belgian scholar, who is a secularist, has just published a well researched and strongly argued book about the Pope's conduct during the war : Pius XII and the extermination of the Jews (Pius XII en de vernietiging van de Joden. http://www.uitgeverijatlas.nl/result_titel.asp?Id=2148 Non-Jews and Jews alike have been critical of Pope Pius XII’s silence DURING and AFTER the war and have opposed his beatification. Surely, Pope Benedict XVI is aware of this opposition and “might himself have some doubts gnawing away at him as regards whether Pius XII was really such an exemplary Pontiff?”.

Dirk Verhofstadt, a Belgian scholar, who is a secularist, has just published a well researched and strongly argued book about the Pope’s conduct during the war : Pius XII and the extermination of the Jews (Pius XII en de vernietiging van de Joden.

http://www.uitgeverijatlas.nl/result_titel.asp?Id=2148

]]> By: In partibus infidelium http://blog.z-word.com/2008/10/lets-be-fair-to-benedict-xvi/#comment-1702 In partibus infidelium Thu, 23 Oct 2008 16:23:38 +0000 http://blog.z-word.com/?p=431#comment-1702 Far from the opposition to Pius XII coming from Jewish sources it has been most evident since the 60's when the Church proved an obstacle in Eastern Europe to Communist control. It was taken up by such as the playright Hochuth and the communist and secular media. In the 90's it was revived by dissident catholics ( disgruntled ex-priests)seeking to undermine the authority of John Paul II by criticising his predecessors. Recently however a Jewish champion has arisen. Dr David Dalin, a Reform Rabbi, in his book "The Myth of Hitler's Pope" has written the best defence of Pius yet in print. Other Jewish historians, such as Martin Gilbert (Churchill's biographer) have judged similarly. It appears to hinge on the question of whether an outright denunciation of the Nazis rather than obstruction and rescue work would have been counter productive. The experience of such a denunciation in the Netherlands which had the opposite effect to that intended would suggest that the Pope was right. However it is not amatter for sloganising but for sober historical study. Pope Benedict is a scholar and will weigh the evidence. Far from the opposition to Pius XII coming from Jewish sources it has been most evident since the 60’s when the Church proved an obstacle in Eastern Europe to Communist control. It was taken up by such as the playright Hochuth and the communist and secular media. In the 90’s it was revived by dissident catholics ( disgruntled ex-priests)seeking to undermine the authority of John Paul II by criticising his predecessors. Recently however a Jewish champion has arisen. Dr David Dalin, a Reform Rabbi, in his book “The Myth of Hitler’s Pope” has written the best defence of Pius yet in print. Other Jewish historians, such as Martin Gilbert (Churchill’s biographer) have judged similarly. It appears to hinge on the question of whether an outright denunciation of the Nazis rather than obstruction and rescue work would have been counter productive. The experience of such a denunciation in the Netherlands which had the opposite effect to that intended would suggest that the Pope was right. However it is not amatter for sloganising but for sober historical study. Pope Benedict is a scholar and will weigh the evidence.

]]> By: Rabbi against Beatification of Pope « Zionism and the State of Israel http://blog.z-word.com/2008/10/lets-be-fair-to-benedict-xvi/#comment-1700 Rabbi against Beatification of Pope « Zionism and the State of Israel Thu, 23 Oct 2008 06:42:47 +0000 http://blog.z-word.com/?p=431#comment-1700 [...] Eamonn McDonagh at Z-Word thinks Pope Benedict XVI is not bowing to Jewish pressure, but rather has his own doubts as to [...] […] Eamonn McDonagh at Z-Word thinks Pope Benedict XVI is not bowing to Jewish pressure, but rather has his own doubts as to […]

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