Pope Pius XII moves closer to sainthood
Despite criticism from Jews and other groups, the Vatican continues to move the WWII Pope Pius XII toward sainthood:
Vatican Defends Status of WWII Pope
In the New York Times
In an effort to calm growing tensions with Jewish groups, the Vatican said Wednesday that Pope Benedict XVI’s decision moving the wartime pope Pius XII closer to sainthood was not a “hostile act” against those who believe Pius did not do enough to stop the Holocaust.The Vatican spokesman, the Rev. Federico Lombardi, issued a statement saying that the beatification process evaluated the “Christian life” of Pius, who reigned from 1939 to 1958, and not “the historical impact of all his operative decisions.”
Moving Pius toward sainthood “is in no way to be read as a hostile act towards the Jewish people, and it is to be hoped that it will not be considered as an obstacle on the path of dialogue between Judaism and the Catholic Church,” Father Lombardi wrote.
Benedict confirmed the “heroic virtues” of Pius — along with those of John Paul II — on Saturday, opening the door to beatification once a miracle is attributed to each. A second miracle would be required for sainthood.
This is the guy who used to be carried about in a sedan chair - the most disgusting display I've ever seen.
The Roman Church is afraid that if they don't sanctify him until after all his papers have been "processed," historians will discover a smoking gun. For pity's sake, he died in 1958. He was the Vatican's diplomat to Nazi Germany, but they try to spin it that he had "heroic virtues."
The one thing you can count on is that if he needs a couple of miracles, they'll find them; doubtless there's a peasant in Bolivia who can be bribed. The Vatican has conservatives to appease, so it rehabs Holocaust deniers.
Jesus rode a jackass; Pius rode a sedan chair. In ermine, no less!
The comedic possibilities are endless, but the tragic implications are frightening.
Posted by Josh Thomas![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.episcopalcafe.com/lead/nav-commenters.gif)
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December 24, 2009 6:20 AM
From The Times,
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/faith/article6966350.ece
"— In 1942 he condemned extermination “by reason of nationality or race”, but did not use the words Nazi or Jew. Supporters claim that if he had been explicit, the Nazi reaction would have been to try to wipe out Jews even faster"
"If he had been more explicit." Sound familiar?
Posted by John B. Chilton![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.episcopalcafe.com/lead/nav-commenters.gif)
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December 27, 2009 5:34 AM