Truth Out on The new Pope and his political ties that directly affect us.

[Kerrytravelers]

I didn't intend upon this being another pope-a-thon thread, but just received this article in my email and wanted to share.

This is a fairly well written piece that shows exactly how dangerous this new Pope is going to be. While we know he was a "membe of the Nazi party simply because, as many Germans did, it was a forced membership. However, there is more to this man than just a membership during his youth. He has moved firmly to the side of the *bots and, as many of us know, directly influenced the election over here. He is in a position to vastly change the political lndscape- but to what ends and why is the church leading politics?

It is my understanding, as a Catholic, that the Pope is to be considered infalliable in matters of scripture. However, what a secular nation does outside the church is not in his jurisdiction. THerefore, his comments regarding our election (prior to him being pope) and on Spain... and even Harry Potter, our outside his relm and not concerning matters of faith.

In the Cathacism (sp), I know of no place where the church grants the Pope permission to speak on matters of secualr government on behalf of the church. I realize that, in some aspects, a person of faith could consider all earthly events matters of faith. However, I think the history of the Catholic church in Europe has shown us exactly what can happen when the church, Catholic, Protestant or otherwise, locks in with the political leadership and form an unholy union.

Again, I didn't intend upon this being another pope-a-thon thread, but just received this article in my email and wanted to share.

Peace and Strength,

kt



<http://www.truthout.org/docs_2005/042805Y.shtml>


Hitler Youth and the Vatican
By Marc Ash
t r u t h o u t | Perspective

Thursday 28 April 2005




<snip>
Recent worldwide press attention to the boyhood membership of now-Pope Benedict XVI in the Hitler Youth Movement <snip>

In fairness to the new Pope, there is no evidence that any member of the Ratzinger family supported or sympathized with the Nazis.

<snip>

Some years later, he {Cardinal Ratzinger} chided a left-leaning colleague over dinner, saying with some satisfaction, "Your Marxist revolution has come to nothing."

<snip>

The Vatican contends today, as it has always contended, that they 'don't do politics.' History disagrees...

<snip>

Among Joseph Ratzinger's better-published positions is "a sense that Catholicism is in competition with Islam." Is that very different from the Vatican's attitudes toward European Jews during the early part of the twentieth century? Lo and behold, armies march again, and once more, the Vatican and German Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger are at the center of the action. As the US pursues what the Islamic world views as a latter-day Christian crusade, it appears Ratzinger made the decision to intercede in the US presidential election process on behalf of the war's architect, George W. Bush. In a June 2004 letter to US bishops, Ratzinger made clear that John Kerry was a sinner for his positions on "life" issues, as would be any one who voted for him. The result was a historic swing of traditionally Democratic voters away from the Catholic John Kerry and into the win column for Republican George W. Bush.

While Pope John Paul II had openly opposed the US war on Iraq, Ratzinger had ensured it would continue for four more years. Either death by war is more acceptable to the Vatican than death by abortion or Islam is a bigger concern than they are letting on. Or both.

<snip>

[Brianboru]

1. Papal Infallibility

Here's a good link for those interested in what Papal Infallibility is about.

"We have this from Jesus himself, who promised the apostles and their successors the bishops, the magisterium of the Church: "He who hears you hears me" (Luke 10:16), and "Whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven" (Matt. 18:18)"

http://www.catholic.com/library/Papal_Infallibility.asp