Quote:
Originally posted by honeychile
Not being a Catholic, I have no real "dog in this fight", but doesn't it bother anyone that the former Cardinal Ratzinger was a member of the Hitler Youth? This is far from the only quote I could find about his involvement.
"This is all especially striking in light of the fact that said Papal directive was delivered to Cardinal George via Cardinal Ratzinger -- a Hitler Youth member.
That the Church's "National Socialist Party" sympathies extend well beyond Ratzinger's "youthful indiscretion" (as the Republicans would say) has long been a matter of public record. And equally long-standing is the fourth estate's unwillingness to to do anything other that toady to the Church -- even now in light of its manifest evil."
|
I don't think Benedict XVI (until recently Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger) had much choice in joining the Hitler Youth. Membership in it was practically required (as long as they were racially suitable) of all German youth from age 10, when they became members of the
Jungvolk (Young Folk). Around age 14-15, having passed many political and proficiency tests, they became
Hitlerjugend (Hitler Youth).
A small minority of Hitler Youth members were very fanatical Nazis; most were 'card carrying' members, mostly paying lip service to the propaganda. An SS division named "Hitlerjugend" was composed mostly of former members of the Hitler Youth - their fanaticism covered up their relative inexperience and they were nearly wiped out by the Allies in WWII.