I am writing in response to a letter titled, “Papal Silence?” (Dec. 16) in which Mr. LaRochelle, addressing Klaus Kuck’s charge (Dec. 3) that Pope Pius XII was negligently silent to the onslaught of Nazi persecution of European Jewry during and before World War II, calls such charges “nonsense.” In defense of the wartime pope, he cites headlines of stories emanating from the Vatican informing the world of Nazi atrocities, coming from such newspapers as The New York Times dating from 1939 thru 1943.

But why not earlier? Why was the pope silent during Hitler’s rise to power, especially when Hitler’s plans had been spelled out so clearly in his notorious “Mein Kampf”?

In my estimation, this was a case of too little and too late. For such criticism to have been effective, it should have begun years before, in the early 30s, when Hitler could possibly have been stopped. I think the most egregious act for which the future pope should be held accountable – he was at this time serving as papal legate to Hitler’s Germany – was in urging the then-reigning pope, Pius XI, to sign the infamous Concordat of 1933 between the Vatican and Hitler.

By its terms, which were highly beneficial to both the church (Roman Catholic and Lutheran branches) and to Hitler, it guaranteed state tax revenue for the support of the church, which at this time was struggling financially, and forbade clerical opposition to Hitler, thus effectively muzzling the opposition.

Stanley Rice, Turner

Copy the Story Link