POINTLESS FUROR OVER HOLOCAUST

"At a solemn Good Friday service, Pope Benedict XVI's personal preacher likened the tide of allegations that the pontiff has covered up sex abuse cases to the "more shameful aspects of anti-Semitism." But within hours, facing a storm of criticism at the comparison, the Vatican felt it necessary to distance the pope from the preacher's remarks.

Both Jewish and victims' groups responded that it was inappropriate to compare the discomfort being experienced by the church leadership in the sex abuse scandal to the violence that culminated in the Holocaust. The Vatican has been on the defensive in recent days, saying the church has been singled out and collectively stereotyped for the problem of pedophilia, which it says is a society-wide issue."
Fox News

Six million Polish citizens were killed in the Holocaust—three million Jews and three million Catholics. Poland was the only country where the Germans gave official death orders for any Pole who helped a Jew. And more Poles were killed for helping Jews than anyone else in the world. The current Broadway play, “Irena’s Vow,” is a dramatic production that accurately tells how Polish Catholics risked their lives to save Jews.

The SS did not take note of the religious affiliation of its prisoners, with the exception of the Jehovah’s Witnesses. But this does not justify dismissing Catholic victims. After all, the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum pays tribute to Polish Catholics, and so should all memorials.

To put all Holocaust victims on an equal plane with Jews is wrong, but it is equally wrong to pretend that Catholics, especially those of Polish descent, weren’t among Hitler’s many victims.
Catholic League

So, if somebody really wanted the Pope's preacher to say something to get everybody even more pissed off could they possibly come up with a better way to do it? What about a joke about child molestation? You know, something like, " So, a priest and a rabbi walked into a day care center...". Could the Vatican maybe sell one painting to get together enough money to hire a good P.R. guy?

Look, I understand that the Jews own the Holocaust, and for good reason. But, they weren't the only ones affected by it. Millions of Catholics were killed, too, along with Gypsies, political dissenters and anyone else that achieved a certain level of inconvenience to the state. A big percentage of my friends growing up were Jewish and I knew people with the numbers tattooed on their forearms. I'm completely aware of the price paid by the Jews and I understand the awareness that the experience built into them.

It's this awareness that prompted the letter to Father Cantalamessa. His words were based on a letter he received from a Jewish friend regarding the current attacks against the Church and their similarity to the attacks against the Jews prior to the beginning of their long, dark night.

"Cantalamessa, in his reflections for the pope on the Catholic church's most solemn day, said he was inspired by a letter from an unidentified Jewish friend who was upset by the "attacks" against Benedict.

Jews "know from experience what it means to be victims of collective violence and also because of this they are quick to recognize the recurring symptoms," said Cantalamessa, a Franciscan priest.

Quoting from the letter, Cantalamessa said his Jewish friend was following "with indignation the violent and concentric attacks against the church, the pope and all the faithful of the whole world."

"The use of stereotypes, the passing from personal responsibility and guilt to a collective guilt remind me of the more shameful aspects of anti-Semitism," he said, quoting from the letter."
Fox News

I believe that the person that wrote the letter is right. We are witnessing a demonization of the Church with the intent of destroying her. In that regard this is a replay of not only the Holocaust but so many other times in history where the groundwork is laid before the war begins.

Somebody, somewhere, would love to see another Kristallnacht, but this time directed at the Church and her people. I know this sounds extreme but I believe it is coming. And after the Catholic Church they will go for the rest of Christianity before moving back on to the Jews once again. We are in the midst of an epic, final battle against the forces of evil. And we're all in this together. Satan knows this so he is fighting a campaign to divide and conquer.

Pointless spats such as the furor that has been generated over this comment by a priest serve the ends of the enemy. We must start focusing on the real enemy and avoid these useless distractions. If we play by the rules of our enemy we will lose the war.