| EdHieron said: Would a church that was strongly against Nazism elect a former Hitler Youth to its top position, and as Hitchens says in the video I posted the Vatican was silent during Hitler's final solution. |
The church now isn't the same as the church of the time... but more importantly, as it points out on wikipedia, membership in the hitler youth was required by law for all 14 year old german boys. In other words, it was mandatory, and you're basically saying that no german male who turned 14 during WWII can be considered anything but a Nazi.
As for "Hitchens", I wouldn't consider what an active atheist (meaning, one that is fighting to end religion) says about the Vatican to necessarily be accurate. Indeed, Hitchens is likely referring to what was described in a book called "Hitler's Pope". It's the main source of the claim that Pope Pius XII said nothing against Hitler's actions. But other sources claim quite the opposite, that he was very much opposed to it, and vocally so. Now, I'm not certain either way, but I'm more inclined to tend towards the Pope vocally opposing it, if only because if he had done otherwise, he would have well and truly brought the catholic church into disrepute at the time as a result.
Here's a catholic website article about a book countering Hitler's Pope. I'm not saying it's true, but it's always best to hear both sides of the argument before making a declaration about what you believe to be the truth, and the article seems reasonable and well-written, from what I gleaned from a skim through.
I should note, in case it isn't clear from what I've said before, that I'm very much an atheist. I just like setting facts straight, or pointing out weaknesses in arguments.
