Language:
English
Year of publication:
2005
Titel der Quelle:
Bulletin (German Historical Institute)
Angaben zur Quelle:
27,2 (2005) 17-44
Keywords:
Pius
;
Pius
;
Catholic Church.
;
Catholic Church.
;
Jews Persecutions 20th century
;
History
;
Jews Persecutions 1933-1939
;
History
;
Holocaust, Jewish (1939-1945) Catholic Church
Abstract:
Based on a lecture delivered at the German Historical Institute in London, December 2004. Examines policies set by the Vatican in response to the onset of the Nazi persecution of Jews in 1933, as well as its dogmatic attitude toward Nazi racist and antisemitic ideology. The Church steadfastly maintained that racism and Nazism were incompatible with Christian doctrine; however, due to political considerations, it made compromises with the totalitarian regimes in Italy and Germany. The Lateran Treaties of 1929 and the Concordat with Hitler in 1933 prescribed political neutrality for the Vatican. The tendency of the Nazis to lump Judaism and Catholicism together as Germany's main enemy impeded the Church's eagerness to defend the Jews. Every resolute protest of the Holy See against Nazi or fascist racism (e.g. the encyclical "Mit brennender Sorge") was followed by repressions against the Church by the respective regimes. In 1934-36 an attempt to compile a new syllabus against racism and communism failed. Pope Pius XII's decision in 1939 to withhold the encyclical prepared by Pius XI against antisemitism also had political motives.
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