The following is from a recent interview of Sr. Margherita Marchione, a "principal biographer" of Pope Pius XII:
"Some Jews accuse [Pope Pius XII] of silence, but it isn't true. His silence was prudent. He did everything possible to save the Jews, it could be said 'behind the scenes.' ... Pius XII's charitable work was universal, magnanimous, assiduous and, above all, paternal in Christian terms, in the most profound sense of the term. Pius XII maintained a diplomatic network in the Vatican during the whole war. He was personally interested in every human case made known to him. Young people and old went to him to receive help and to find dispersed relatives. Innumerable requests arrived daily from all countries worldwide, and all received his attention."
Sister Marchione - who remembers Pope Pius XII "as a saint" - also stated that "History must tell the truth, that the Catholic Church saved more than 5,000 Jews in Rome alone. It is a disgrace not to recognize it." Her comments follow other research which "deconstructs negative stereotypes" concerning the late pontiff, and also follow news of recently discovered archive documents which indicate that Catholics who joined the Nazis during the WWII era would be excommunicated.
Quotation Source: Zenit
[6/8]
Among several problematic (a charitable word choice) aspects of his recent sermon at the Vatican, Fr. Cantalamessa's comments taken from a Jewish friend's letter give special cause for concern. The letter read, in part... [emphasis added]
"I am following with indignation the violent and concentric attacks against the Church, the Pope and all the faithful by the whole world. The use of stereotypes, the passing from personal responsibility and guilt to a collective guilt remind me of the more shameful aspects of anti-Semitism. Therefore I desire to express to you personally, to the Pope and to the whole Church my solidarity as Jew of dialogue and of all those that in the Jewish world (and there are many) share these sentiments of brotherhood. Our Passover and yours undoubtedly have different elements, but we both live with Messianic hope that surely will reunite us in the love of our common Father."
Will someone at the Vatican (Pope Benedict?) please offer a public correction to the papal preacher? Jesus clearly taught that...
"I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." (Jn. 14:6)
And...
"[W]hoever rejects me rejects the one who sent me." (Lk. 10:16)
Scripture clearly tells us that...
"There is no salvation through anyone else, nor is there any other name under heaven given to the human race by which we are to be saved." (Acts 4:12)
Couldn't one argue that failure to instruct Jews on this essential matter is the 'worst form of anti-Semitism'?
Update: In the wake of "harsh criticism", Fr. Cantalamessa has apologized for offending Jews & abuse victims by quoting his Jewish friend which compared abuse scandals in the Church to anti-Semitism. No apology, however, was made for his failure to instruct Jews that they must convert for salvation. In fact, a recent story on a Jewish site complains (whines?) about a reference in a "traditionalist Good Friday prayer" that refers to "conversion the Jews". They claim the wording was "quite unexpectedly... changed to 'Let us Pray for the Conversion of the Jews'" instead of "Let us Pray for the Jews" and want the "error" corrected. They have reportedly received assurance from the Vatican that the "error" will be "rectified". Commentary: With all the talk of a 'new Pentecost', when will those who love souls finally revisit the true Pentecost in which St. Peter - upon receiving the Holy Spirit, and acting as Christ's representative - instructed the devout Jews of that time that they needed to repent and be baptized into Christ's Church for salvation (cf. Acts 2:38-41)? Avoiding missionary activity may feel more pleasant & 'friendly', but is it not entirely contrary to the Church's mission & the 'worst form of anti-Semitism'?
Related: Who Jesus Is & Why You Should Believe | The Importance of Being Catholic: Combating Religious Indifferentism
[4/3, updated 4/5]
It has been announced that the Vatican will digitize some of its WWII archives and will make the material available online, free of charge. It is said that the documents will "render service to the historic truth." Jews have been calling for release of WWII era documents to examine Pope Pius XII's actions during the Jewish holocaust.
[2/16]
Some Jews claim that the Pope's planned visit to a Roman synagogue next month has been put "under a cloud" by the Supreme Pontiff's recent decision to declare Pope Pius XII venerable. At least one account speaks of "fears of the visit being cancelled." One commentator (laughably) suggests that the Church should "take [Jews'] sensitivities into serious consideration" when declaring saints. Others speak of "insensitivity", "Jewish anger", being "furious", and there has been at least one call for the Church to "renounce" the beatification plan. While some Jews think the late Pope was too "silent" during the Jewish holocaust, researchers have demonstrated that Pope Pius XII "did more than anyone else" to save Jews during this time.
Here in America, Archbishop Dolan has made waves in the opposite direction by lighting a candle on a menorah at a Jewish temple marking the beginning of Hanukkah. Or, in other words, a high-ranking Catholic prelate - in full clerical garb - spent part of Advent participating in a Jewish religious practice with persons who specifically reject (if not openly calumniate) Christ during a time where Catholics are to be preparing for the celebration of Christ's birth, thereby scandalizing & confusing many of the faithful.
"I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." (Our Lord Jesus Christ, Jn. 14:6)
"Whoever does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent him." (Jn. 5:23)
"There is no salvation through anyone else, nor is there any other name under heaven given to the human race by which we are to be saved." (Acts 4:12)
"Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters." (Our Lord Jesus Christ, Mt. 12:30)
Related: Catholic Apologetics for Jews
Also See: Necessity of Belief in Jesus ("Who Jesus Is & Why You Should Believe")
[12/21]
The following appears in an opening paragraph of a CNS article covering the Pope's 2009 activities:
"The Year of St. Paul. The Year for Priests. A major social encyclical. A Holy Land pilgrimage. A first meeting with President Obama. Ten new saints. An African trip and an African synod. A Facebook debut. A controversial concession to Catholic traditionalists. An unexpected overture to disaffected Anglicans."
It doesn't take a hound dog to sniff out the bias there, does it? The "eyebrow raising" encyclical calling for "large-scale redistribution of wealth on a world-wide scale" which speaks "urgent need of a true world political authority" which is "universally recognized" and "vested with... effective power...[and] the authority to ensure compliance with its decisions from all parties" is referred to simply as a "major social encyclical." The other events are also simply listed. But, the lifting of some excommunications...that is referred to as a "controversial concession to Catholic traditionalists."
Although one might (unfortunately) expect such bias in the secular media, it seems especially out of place in a news service of the U.S. bishops - a news service that they claim "has set the standard in Catholic journalism". But then again, it's hardly surprising in light of some of their recent coverage, coverage which prompted one author to state that "It is bizarre theater indeed when an American Cardinal must directly refute the errors in a piece that was syndicated, published and propagated by the news service owned by the very Bishops' Conference to which he belongs, and this just months after the leadership of said news service was put on notice by a powerful Vatican prelate".
Even if the Pope's lifting of the excommunications was "controversial" (particularly to the Jews), was it really any more controversial than some of the novel passages in the encyclical or the Vatican's recent playlist including a rap song with explicit lyrics, or any other events occurring in 2009? So, why single this one out for the label "controversial"? One who didn't know any better might think the bishops were biased in a liberal direction - or that were more concerned about Jews' feelings than Church unity. But, no, that can't be the case. Certainly not.
[12/17]
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