Pope Benedict XVI has never renounced his nazi involvement.

[dhinojosa]

So far, I am scouring information to find out whether John Ratzinger has ever publicly renounced his involvement in Hitler-youth and as a FLAK operator, and I see none. (Maybe some of you have something else)

I see some posts saying to lay off his nazi involvement, but I just want to know of anything where Ratzinger has apologized for his involvement. This is the crux of the problem. If he has, I would like to see some info regarding it. I am still having a hard time fathoming that the leader of billions of religious followers happens to be ex-nazi and has never expressed regret.

If he has apologized, then I say let it go. We have forgiven Robert Byrd after expressed regret for his actions in the KKK, surely we will let Benedict XVI alone.

Anyways, end of rant.

[Sequoia]

1. Youth=child, no?

Weren't many kids inducted into this movement whether they wanted to or not? How old was he, did he become a trooper later on?

[Avalux]

5. He was 14

then went to basic training at 16 and was posted in Hungary where he went AWOL at age 17. He was also held in an Allied POW camp after that where he attended deNazification classes.

[XanaDUer]

2. He join Hitler Youth when it was made compulsory in '41

He deserted in April '44 and spent a few weeks in a POW camp.

It was in the UK TImes.

[tridim]

3. I want to know why the cardinals voted for an unapologetic Nazi

And I also want to know why the crowd at the Vatican cheered his election. Scary times ahead.

[piece sine]

6. some reporters there

stated the crowd was noteably subdued....the locals there wanted an Italian. My Mother weeps today at the thought of a German "Holy Father."

I'm no longer Catholic (fer-sure) but I know this new guy is going to be, by far, the most powerful Pope ever seen on Earth. He rose to unprecedent heights BEFORE picking-off the Papacy on a lousy 4th vote. The guy is god himself...beware!

[Maple]

4. He was

an anti-aircraft gunner

[Spider Jerusalem]

7. There is much I do not like about the man...

but he has nothing to apologise for on this.

He was inducted into the Hitler Youth (from what I gather, he wasn't too enthusiastic at the prospect), which was mandatory, and then drafted into the anti-aircraft defence corps (from which he deserted), which was ALSO mandatory, but he was never a Nazi. Most Germans WEREN'T Nazis, in fact.

I must be the only person here who finds it rather self-righteous to expect a man to repent of things he was forced into against his will as a teenager at a time when resistance probably meant imprisonment or even death. And considering that his adult career offers so much fertile ground for criticism, the insistence on harping on his supposed "Nazi involvement" is not only ludicrous, but also reflects rather poorly on the people doing it...it's clear from what they say that they have no clue what they're talking about.

[TahitiNut]

10. Show me where he has taken a stance against fascism like he took a stance

... against Liberation Theology. This is NOT a Shrinking Violet who hides his opinions. Where's his written or recorded opinion against fascism anyhwere nearly as firm and clear as his opinion against homosexuality, liberals, and defensive of pedophiles???

[patcox2]

8. When did you stop beating your wife? nt

nt

[Scurrilous]

9. Exactly..

...:thumbsup:

[dhinojosa]

14. I am not married, and I am not an abuser.

WTF?

[China_cat]

11. His involvement with Hitler youth is forgivable

as he had no choice and his parents would have paid a very severe price for his refusal to join.

His choice of the name Benedict to bear as pontiff is another story altogether.

http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/anti-semitism/Pope_Benedict_on_Jews.html
Encyclical of Pope Benedict XIV promulgated on June 14, 1751

(start with point 3)

Boiled down, it is an instruction to the Polish catholics to get rid of the Jews.

[Sean Reynolds]

12. Read his book....

He renounces it there.

[dhinojosa]

13. oooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!

ok thanks

[patcox2]

15. Oh my god, someone with facts instead of conjecture.

I am shocked to see someone with knowledge of the facts venturing to post. We are supposed to simply assume that he has secretly been a full-fledged nazi who keeps a secret alter to adolph hitler hidden in a closet. He has been under "deep cover," biding his time, waiting until he could take over the church and use it to forward the goals of the fuhrer. He is the "Wannsee Pope" (as in "Manchurian Candidate" meets the Wansee Conference).