The Ratzinger/Nazi connection is a non issue. I suggest we drop it

[Quixote1818]

I made a joke about this earlier and I feel like I should apologize for it. Being in the Nazi youth was compulsory it turns out. It's obvious he doesn't prescribe to anything near what the Nazi's stood for now and perhaps never did. What matters is what he believes today anyway.

I am disappointed in the choice but I don't think he is going to be too bad, probably about the same as John Paul. He has good points and bad points. Several earlier posts said he would not give communion to people who believe in the Death Penalty and he also said it's OK to vote for someone who is Pro Choice. That according to an earlier DU post. He could be a lot worse. Hopfully he will turn out to be the David Suter of Popes. Lets hope! Not being Catholic, this is probably none of my business anyway but I was hoping he might help stop the spread of AIDS in Africa by being for birth control. Oh well, perhaps millions will die of AIDS because of his stance but what can you do?

[bryant69]

1. That's just it

As I said on another post, I really don't think the catholic church was going to nominate someone who pleased us all that much.

Bryant
check it out --> http://politicalcomment.blogspot.com

[neuvocat]

2. Maybe it is more of a Nun issue.

<tries to duck>

[Quixote1818]

3. Thats a bunch of Nun sense!!! Get out of here! nt

[izzie]

4. Hell I knew a kid who was born in the US and was in Hitler Youth

He was taken back to Germany by his mother and father and all kids went into it. I do not think it was as bad as the name sounds but I believe this Pope did not stay in it long and I am willing to bet he was in the Army as this kid I knew had to go in. This Pope would have had to also. Going into your own countries army in war was not a bad thing. We are looking at it from 50 years later and we won.

[allemand]

5. Thank you. Now let's focus on the Ratzinger/Opus Dei connection and all

the other issues which make his election a terrible choice. IMHO, it's a right-wing coup within the church.

[devilgrrl]

6. Until I hear this guy denounce Nazism I will cut him NO slack...

Some of his viewpoints seem to go hand in hand with that philosophy.

[roguevalley]

7. agreed

[Quixote1818]

8. I just cant believe that John Paul who did so much for Jewish

Catholic relations would have put him so high up if he thought he had Nazi tendency's. John Paul II loved the Jewish people.

[Hobarticus]

9. I think John Paul knew more about this man than all DUers

put together and wrapped up into a tight little ball, and I trust his judgement.

As for his stances, that's another thing.

[Adenoid_Hynkel]

10. i'm ore concerned about his suspicious resemblence to zell miller

did bush rig this vote, too?

[RPM]

11. uhhhhh, no?

What was John Paul doing at the time? What was Ratzinger doing at the time?

Its like asking W and Kerry what they did during 'nam - IT'S FUCKING RELEVANT!!!!

[Quixote1818]

12. I agree it's a relevant question but from what I can see their is nothing

their. If their was I would be all over it.

[Hobarticus]

14. He was an AA gunner, not Hitler's water boy...

There were countless teens just like Ratzinger. He was conscripted, and later deserted.

Read the facts Ð THEY'RE FUCKING RELEVANT!!!!

[RPM]

15. i did read the facts....

signing up and deserting is not even close to abstaining which still falls short of standing up and doing the wrong thing.

[roguevalley]

13. check this out from www.americablog.org

Ratzinger to the Catholic News Service in 2002, commenting on the Catholic church pedophile priest scandal:

"I am personally convinced that the constant presence in the press of the sins of Catholic priests, especially in the United States, is a planned campaign, as the percentage of these offences among priests is not higher than in other categories, and perhaps it is even lower."

"In the United States, there is constant news on this topic, but less than 1% of priests are guilty of acts of this type," he said. "The constant presence of these news items does not correspond to the objectivity of the information nor to the statistical objectivity of the facts.

"Therefore, one comes to the conclusion that it is intentional, manipulated, that there is a desire to discredit the Church. It is a logical and well-founded conclusion."

Could have fooled me.