Joseph Ratzinger named new pope-- Benedict XVI

[mousepod]

Originally Posted by Prudence

I wouldn't automatically assume that he intends the end of VII. Nor would I necessarily hold his Nazi-era dealings against him. If he was already in seminary then, my expectations would have been higher. If he was older my expectations would have been higher. But this is framed partly by my frustration that we seem to now require all our leaders to have lead exemplary lives from infancy -- no room for growth, experience, and character development. End derailment.

As far as I can tell, he left the Hitler Youth because he was in seminary. Then two years later he got his job guarding Dachau slave labor at the BMW plant.

Having said that, I eagerly await his statement on this part of his past - the minimization of it by his "fan club" is laughable.

[Prudence]

Originally Posted by mousepod

As far as I can tell, he left the Hitler Youth because he was in seminary. Then two years later he got his job guarding Dachau slave labor at the BMW plant.

Having said that, I eagerly await his statement on this part of his past - the minimization of it by his "fan club" is laughable.

I'd never heard of the guy before this whole conclave excitement, so I have no idea what specifically he did or what his motivations were. It's a very emotionally charged episode in history and I don't like to make judgments on people's actions during that time (or, really, ever) without knowing more. As much as we might want people to rise up and fight evil, we're all human with human frailties and frankly I can imagine myself just wishing the madness would end and that I'd live through it. I'd like to think that I'd stand up and but others before myself, but I don't know that I would. And I can't hold others to a higher standard than I'd hold myself.

I sound like such an equivocator. And I hate it, but I can't help it. My husband and I go over this all the time. He sees black and white, and all I see are infinite shades of grey. For me, there would be distinct differences between a person who didn't resist because they were truly apathetic, and a person who didn't resist because they feared for their own safety. Or between a person who took a guard job because it paid well and they didn't risk being fired upon and a person who took a guard job because maybe they could do some small good or protect the prisoners in some way. Or even between someone who was raised to think Jews were subhuman and who continues to believe that, and someone who was similarly raised but as time progressed realized the lies of his upbringing.

Again, I have absolutely no idea what the new pope did or why, but despite my omnipresent tinfoil hat I hold out hope that his motivations were, if not supremely good, at least not evil. I assume that none of us is born perfect and I hope that we all improve with age. Like cheese.

("Blessed are the cheesemakers!")

But you're right -- it will be interesting to hear what he has to say about his past. I do believe that someone in his position has an obligation to be forthcoming. And given the unrest and persecution going on right now (Darfur, anyone?) his experience could provide guidance, warning, or both.

A "teaching opportunity," as my dad would say.