For the same reason I am especially against executing minors

[Burma Jones]

I can overlook Ratso's youthful indescretions. A 14 year old doesn't know WTF they're doing. Particularly if they've been raised in Nazi Germany.

[vpigrad]

1. After a Nazi-indoctrination at that age...

how could you ever be sure just what kind of person he is? I'm sorry, but that's too large of a risk.

[KitchenWitch]

3. Question for you...

are there things you did and attitudes you held as a young teenager that you would not do today? I am not necessarily condoning Pope Benedict XVI's behavior as a Nazi youth. My point is, I am so totally not the person I was at 14, and I would venture to say that the new Pope is not either (especially since a lot more time has passed since he was 14 than since I was 14).

[donheld]

2. I agree with you

What he did at the age 14, more or less at gun point, should not be held against him.

[NYC Liberal]

4. Still, people won't make that distinction

Do they really want to send any kind of image like that? Are there no better people to be pope?

It certainly won't help with the Church's declining numbers. Give you an example: When they made the announcement at my (Catholic) school, the response from most of the kids was "We have a Nazi Pope!"

Anyway, I agree, but still...it wasn't a wise choice because the image the project DOES matter. Neverminding that he's ultra-conservative.

[walldude]

5. I agree

but hearing some of his current positions makes me think he might have liked his youthful indescretions...