by Ronald Rychlak (Catalyst 12/2001) A couple of years ago, when critics charged that Pope Pius XII had shown a callous indifference to the plight of the Jews, the common refrain was that if only he had been more outspoken on behalf of the Jews, like his predecessors, thousands of more lives might have been saved. [...]
by Robert P. Lockwood (5/2001) In recent years there have been a series of books that have dealt both directly and indirectly with the accusation that Pope Pius XII bore responsibility for the Holocaust in World War II. Beginning with John Cornwell’s “Hitler’s Pope,”1 through Garry Wills’ “Papal Sin”2 and concluding – at least at this point in [...]
by Robert P. Lockwood (9/2000) Shortly before the joint beatification of Pope John XXIII and Pope Pius IX on September 3, 2000, Catholic News Service published a story contrasting popular reaction to the two men.1 The report noted Italian television specials planned on Pope John XXIII, gift shops crowded with holy cards, books and videos on his [...]
by Robert P. Lockwood (6/2000) It is a sad phenomenon of modern America that too often self-identified Catholics display anti-Catholicism or anti-Catholic rhetoric in the public arena. Anti-Catholic statements from Catholics, or those with Catholic roots, may seem to be an oxymoron. But it exists and those Catholics that engage in such inflammatory rhetoric against their [...]
