Frank, are you willing to answer the following questions:
"Are you pro-German National Socialism ( 1933-45 vintage )?"
"What evidence can you provide to support your claim that the Church, somehow, supported German National Socialism, in spite of papal encyclicals, radio broadcasts and other worldwide historical evidence to the contrary?"
Mr. Benedict,
Your two questions are somewhat curve balls, even though you may well not see it. Vintage NS is indeed something very dead and gone. I have a piety and respect for my grandfather and his generation, but those days belong to them, not to me or others of our later generations. At least that's my view. As for being "pro-German," that's quite another matter. Of course, being an American German, I'm always pro-German! What else? Fatherland forever... (Although by now Germany is practically identical with "Greater Europe." We seem to have won that particular war.)
True enough, the Church never "supported National Socialism." But the Church never "supported" any political factions over the rest. She has supported Catholic kingship, surely, but all the political factions are beneath her. In her neutrality she "supported" both the Axis and Allied nations themselves, including Germany. Perhaps even especially Germany.
My view is that the Church supported the good on both sides. Therefore she supported the civilizing missions of the British and French Empires and the legal freedoms of the American Republic as well as the Crusade Against Bolshevism and social justice of the Western Axis Powers. She had nothing good to say about the Soviet Union regardless of which side the Soviets were on, which, of course, was VERY MUCH on BOTH sides at various times as both the winning and losing sides should admit. Both sides "supped with the Red Devil" when it suited them -- although the Germans had the honor of dealing the mortal blow!
Perhaps the true moral high ground was actually held by Nationalist Spain, and Nationalist Spain was a signatory member of the Axis Powers, although with much greater political savvy than the rest, hence her exceptional longevity and the great Classical beauty of the Pontifical Valle de los Caidos to this very day.
My opinion is that the Church has never taken a stand on the politics of National Socialism, nor should she. She has bravely condemned National Socialists when Pagan and compassionately provided them with all the benefits of her sacramental economy when Catholic. But Nationalists are often Catholics! All the German war dead are buried beneath the Cross of Christ regardless of their politics.
Since when has our Creed included a political addenda?
Whether it was intentional or not, the question:
"What evidence can you provide to support your claim that the Church, somehow, supported German National Socialism, in spite of papal encyclicals, radio broadcasts and other worldwide historical evidence to the contrary?"
..was followed by an answer to a different question:
"...All the German war dead are buried beneath the Cross of Christ regardless of their politics..."
...which could have been:
How did World War II Germany follow Christian principles in its "final solution"
to the consequences of the war? --Or, "How did German National Socialism
support the Church and/or her teachings in regards to the burial if its dead?"
Keep in mind that some 400 years earlier
England formally foreswore the
supremacy of the Sovereign Pontiff under King Henry VIII, but did Germany ever
do such a thing? Was there ever an officially promoted persecution of Catholics in
Germany as there was in "merry ol' England?"
In regards to the Social Kingship of Our Lord Jesus Christ, does having only the
Cross marking graves serve it better, or, is it better served by the path
America has taken, namely, to mark the graves of war dead in national cemeteries by
any one of
some 39 symbols*, including but not limited to star of David,
Buddhist flower, non-denominational symbol, or atheist symbol? Why not have a symbol for wiccans or satanists? Isn't that part of our "freedom
of religion?" I have a friend who told me that in a recent military operation in the
Middle East, it was easier to obtain a "pagan chaplain" than it was to find a
Catholic priest or even a Protestant minister. I'd like to know, "What's the
difference between a "pagan chaplain" and a warlock?!" And I'd especially be
interested to hear what St. Patrick would have to say in answer to that question!!
Maybe I should ask Fr. Pfeiffer. He's the closest one I can think of to any St.
Patrick alive today.
Add to that, how there is a push on presently to REMOVE the crosses over all the
graves at National Cemeteries in America, out of deference to "other faith
communities" (most notably Jєωιѕн), because the cross can be "offensive" to
them. At least Germany did not fall prey to that particular mistake!
And last but not least, there is the question of cremation. The Church has never
taught that cremation is a Christian method of burial, "inurnment." And if WWII
Germany was supportive of the Church's doctrine regarding burial of its dead,
then how could there have been any "ovens" for the remains of particular
Germans? As I said, "last but not least."
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Question: What's the difference between a "Wiccan pentacle" and one of the 50
stars on the US Flag? After all - the headquarters of the Armed Forces in the USA
is the Pentagon - a 5-sided building, not too unlike a 5-pointed pentacle.
Could this be a reason that Obama won the next two elections?
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
*Reference:
Article in the Army Times website [Has this happened in Germany?]
Wiccans get grave marker symbolBy Scott Bauer - The Associated Press
Posted : Monday Apr 23, 2007 14:00:50 EDT
MADISON, Wis. — Wiccans will be allowed to have the symbol of their religion placed on grave markers in national cemeteries under a lawsuit settlement with the Department of Veterans Affairs announced Monday.
The settlement calls for the
Wiccans’ pentacle, a five-pointed star representing earth, air, fire, water and spirit to be placed on grave markers within 14 days for those who have pending requests with the VA.
There are 11 families nationwide that are waiting for grave markers with the pentacle, said Selena Fox, a Wiccan high priestess with Circle Sanctuary in Barneveld, Wis., and a party to the lawsuit.
“I am glad this has ended in success in time to get markers for Memorial Day,” she said.
The agreement settles a lawsuit filed in November by veterans’ widows and others alleging that the VA has stalled for more than nine years in
recognizing the pentacle. The case, which will be dismissed under the settlement, was scheduled to go to trial in June in federal court in Madison.
The pentacle joins
38 religious symbols the VA already permits on gravestones. They include commonly recognized symbols for Christianity, Buddhism, Islam and Judaism, as well as those for smaller religions such as Sufism Reoriented, Eckankar and the Japanese faith Seicho-No-Ie.
The
pentacle was already listed as an acceptable symbol Monday morning on the VA’s Web site.
“This settlement has forced the Bush administration into acknowledging that there are no second-class religions in America, including among our nation’s veterans,” said Rev. Barry W. Lynn, director of Americans United for Separation of Church and State, which brought the lawsuit on behalf of the Wiccans. “It is
a proud day for religious freedom in the United States.”
The VA sought the settlement in the interest of the families involved and
to save taxpayers the expense of further litigation, VA spokesman Matt Burns said. Under the settlement, the VA agreed to pay $225,000 in attorneys’ fees and costs.
The government also agreed to settle when it became clear the Wiccans’ application to have the
pentacle recognized would be “favorably considered” under new rules the VA was working on, Burns said.
A nature-based religion, the Wiccan faith is founded on
respect for the earth, nature and the cycle of the seasons. Wiccans have argued that the pentacle has gotten a bad reputation because people don’t understand the religion or its imagery. Variations of the pentacle not accepted by the religion have been used in
horror movies as a sign of the devil.
The lawsuit argued that the VA’s refusal to act on requests to permit the symbol on veterans’ grave markers violated Wiccans’
constitutional rights of freedom of speech, religion and due process.
The lawsuit also said it made no sense for Wiccan symbols to be banned from grave markers when Wiccan soldiers can list their faith on
dog tags, Wiccan organizations are allowed to
hold services on military installations, and the
Army Chaplains Handbook includes an explanation of the religion.
The lawsuit was filed by Circle Sanctuary; Isis Invicta Military Mission, a Wiccan and
Pagan congregation serving military personnel based in Geyserville, Calif.; Jill Medicine Heart Combs, whose husband is severely ill; and two widows of Wiccans — Roberta Stewart of Nevada and Karen DePolito of Utah.
Discussion:
Wiccans get grave marker symbol
Topic: AT THE BEGINNING AND END ON AN AGE (Read 5731 times)