The Church and the Holocaust

By   |  September 20, 2009

Pius XIIThere has been a lot of speculation about the actions of the Catholic Church and Pope Pius XII (at left, as Nuncio in Berlin in 1927) in regard to the Holocaust during World War II. Some feel that the Church did more than it got credit for; others condemn the Church’s reluctance to criticize Germany and its wholesale slaughter of millions of Jews and others. Still others point to the staunch anti-communism of Pius XII and other factors as indicators that the Church traded official silence on fascist excesses for protection of the Church and in furtherance of its political objectives.

It would be too simple to say that the Vatican struck a deal with the Germans and Italians. The Church had dealings with both governments, and the Vatican tried to maintain an essentially neutral position during the war. No doubt, there was a justifiable element of concern for the very survival of the Church. However, Hitler and the Nazi leadership were wary of the Vatican and always considered it an enemy, and no conciliatory gestures the Church made changed that perception.

The role of the Church during WWII is very controversial, and even researching it requires great caution. There is a broad range of seemingly authoritative history that can be used to substantiate virtually any position.

Pope Pius XII, like Pius XI before him, made statements and took actions that were not favorable to the Nazis or their treatment of Jews and others. However, those actions were not very effective, partly because the Pope didn’t throw the full weight of his papacy behind them. There were many other Catholics, including priests, nuns, monks, brothers, and lay people, who courageously defied the Nazis and tried to protect Jews, and many of them paid with their lives. In Italy, where the treatment of Jews during the Holocaust was generally better than in some countries but worse than others, there’s no doubt that the influence of the Church saved the lives of many.

There were other actions by senior Catholic leaders that were reprehensible. For example, Theodor Cardinal Innitzer, in Austria, openly supported the Anschluss and personally went to meet Hitler when he arrived in Vienna. August Cardinal Hlond, who was then Primate of Poland and openly anti-Semitic, wrote a pastoral letter urging Polish Catholics to boycott Jewish businesses. And perhaps worst is the role of Archbishop (later Cardinal) Aloysius Stepinac in Croatia, a fascist state during World War II that allied itself with the Nazis. Archbishop Stepinac was a supporter of the Holocaust in Croatia which resulted in the murders of perhaps as many as 600,000 Serbs, Jews, Roma (Gypsies), and others. Even today, Stepinac is seen as a hero by some in Croatia, the Vatican still supports him, and a Catholic school in New York is named for him.

Perhaps the best summary is this: The Catholic Church, especially at lower levels, made some effort to save Jews and others during the Holocaust, but it didn’t do enough. If ever there was a time for the Pope and his Church to put it all on the line in forceful opposition to evil, this was it. In that respect, the Church failed. As a result, many died who might not have. Remember that Hitler and the Nazis were very conscious of public opinion, they took great pains to justify their actions, and they attempted to hide their worst acts. If the Pope had repeatedly stood up to the Nazis and announced, firmly and unequivocally before the world, “In the name of God, you may not do this!” there is a good chance they would have been more circumspect and as a result would not have been able to kill so many.

Additional reading:

Remembering the Holocaust, Opinion Forum
Auschwitz and the Holocaust, Opinion Forum
Pope Pius XII and the Holocaust, Jewish Virtual Library
Pope defends wartime predecessor of anti-semitism charge, Telegraph
The Holocaust and the Catholic Church, James Carroll, The Atlantic
The Catholic Church and the Holocaust, 1930-1965, Michael Phayer
Hitler’s Pope, John Cornwell

(This article was also posted at Opinion Forum.)

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3 Comments on “The Church and the Holocaust”  (RSS)

  1. The article I thought was good except that as has been said didn’t go far enough. In the past I have spoken under many guises agreeing or disagreeing with others tinct and t.c included. The one thing I hated to hear from some uninformed americans was how britian (my country) didn’t do enough in the war and had to be bailed out by america, the sheer anger I feel when listening to ill informed people is mind blowing, the fact was a lot of american businesses bolstered the german war effort even whilst the british were fighting the germans. Joe Kennedy (father of j.f.k, etc)actually told the british government to let hitler take over europe as he would be a stabilising influence! Britain ce4rtainly suffered from some of these kinds of people so by no means do I proclaim britians side pure, but I do wish a truer history of who did what and why would be written and taught in all schools. As for the vatican, what can be said, historically it has always adapted itself to get the maximum benefit. I have to admit though that whilst I believe in a higher power I don’t believe in religious authorities of any kind as they become structured, rigid and intolerant of others, and as such destroys rather than builds a just society

  2. You’re absolutely right, Tinct. All sorts of influential people knew enough at some point to have done something, anything, to help. But the Catholic Church occupies a special place in any consideration of the Holocaust. The Church and the Pope himself occupy a singular position of moral leadership in the Western world, and the Church, including the Pope personally, should have done more.

    I was a founding member of the USHMM, and I visited several times. It’s always a stark, troubling experience. I was in Israel only once, on a very quick visit, and didn’t get to Yad Vashem. I’m determined to make it some day.

  3. I always enjoy your articles Tom, but I have to say I feel like this one singles the Church out for an action (or non-action) many were also guilty of. Most of the entire world- including America- failed to step up to the plate during the Holocaust when it came to helping the Jews. America repeatedly turned back boatloads of Jewish refugees even after the calamity was over. The Church may also have failed in its duty to help fellow human beings, but I wish this article would also clarify that the Church is not the only one to blame for its laxity.

    Still, it’s always good to see articles on the Holocaust. I just visited Yad Vashem last week and nearly burst into tears when I entered the circular room lined with shelves of binders of the names of the murdered. Very important that this sin against life is never allowed to be replicated.

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