| | A very short, but well written news article. I particularly liked where the author quotes someone objecting to the Pope's remarks, "The notion that it is nonreligious people in the U.K. today who want to force their views on others, coming from a man whose organization exerts itself internationally to impose its narrow and exclusive form of morality and undermine the human rights of women, children, gay people, and many others, is surreal.”
I also don't believe that the Pope's grasp of history is that deficient. He surely knows that most Nazis were Christians who thought that God was on their side. The oath that children swore to join the Hitler Youth ended with, "... so help me God."
"I believe today that my conduct is in accordance with the will of the Almighty Creator." Adolph Hitler, Mein Kampf, Vol. 1 Chapter 2
"Once again the songs of the fatherland roared to the heavens along the endless marching columns, and for the last time the Lord's grace smiled on His ungrateful children." Adolf Hitler, Mein Kampf, Vol. 1, Chapter 7
"What we have to fight for is the necessary security for the existence and increase of our race and people, the subsistence of its children and the maintenance of our racial stock unmixed, the freedom and independence of the Fatherland; so that our people may be enabled to fulfill the mission assigned to it by the Creator." Adolf Hitler, Mein Kampf, Vol. 1 Chapter 8
"But if out of smugness, or even cowardice, this battle is not fought to its end, then take a look at the peoples five hundred years from now. I think you will find but few images of God, unless you want to profane the Almighty." Adolf Hitler, Mein Kampf, Vol. 1 Chapter 10
On sin against the will of God:
"In short, the results of miscegenation are always the following: (a) The level of the superior race becomes lowered; (b) physical and mental degeneration sets in, thus leading slowly but steadily towards a progressive drying up of the vital sap. The act which brings about such a development is a sin against the will of the Eternal Creator. And as a sin this act will be avenged." Adolf Hitler, Mein Kampf, Vol. 1 Chapter 11
On sacrilege against God:
"Anyone who dares to lay hands on the highest image of the Lord commits sacrilege against the benevolent creator of this miracle and contributes to the expulsion from paradise." Adolf Hitler, Mein Kampf Vol. 2 Chapter 1
On confidence in God:
"Thus inwardly armed with confidence in God and the unshakable stupidity of the voting citizenry, the politicians can begin the fight for the 'remaking' of the Reich as they call it." Adolf Hitler, Mein Kampf Vol. 2 Chapter 1
"Secular schools can never be tolerated because such schools have no religious instruction, and a general moral instruction without a religious foundation is built on air; consequently, all character training and religion must be derived from faith ...we need believing people." Adolf Hitler, April 26, 1933, speech made during negotiations leading to the Nazi-Vatican Concordat
Speaking of the Nazi-Vatican Concordat... Take a look at the nature of the agreement made between the Vatican and the Nazis in 1933:
"The German Catholic Church has rescinded its ban on joining the Nazi Party. The Catholic Centre party has dissolved itself. [And Articles 31 and 32 prevent any revival of this democratic Catholic party which had opposed the Nazis.] In the Reichskonkordat, the Vatican has promised that German Bishops and their subordinates will be obedient to and honour the Nazi state (Article 16). It has promised that German Catholic educators will teach children patriotic love for the Nazi state (Article 21). It has requested and received the Nazi dictatorship's promise to enforce internal Church decisions (Article 10). Cardinal Bertram of Breslau has called on Catholics to avoid all subversive or illegal (by Nazi definition) activities." That Pope slipped into bed with Hitler as fast as some Boston priests slipped into bed with small boys.
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It is true that many Nazi intellectuals and leaders were very fond of Nietzsche, and Nietzsche was quite famous for saying, "God is dead." And for saying this about priests, "It is because of their impotence that in them hatred grows to monsterous and uncanny proportions. The truly great haters in world history have always been priests." (I really like that, and when you read it in context, it makes clear that 'impotent' refers not to sexuality, but to creativity, productivity, and accomplishment.)
The Nazi's took what they wanted from Nietzsche and ignored what they didn't want and both the Nazis and Nietzsche disdained reason and worshiped passion and instinct.
I see the Pope's angry use of the label "Nazi" as cheap rhetoric that insults the intelligence of the audience and maybe as part of the monstrous hatred of uncanny proportions he carries.
(Edited by Steve Wolfer on 9/17, 11:05am)
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