Catholic Church and the Holocaust, 1930-1965

From Publishers Weekly
Phayer makes an important addition to the literature of Holocaust studies: he provides evidence that Pope Pius XII (who reigned over the Catholic Church from 1939 to 1958) knew in early 1942 what was happening to Europe's Jews (and to non-Jews in Croatia and Poland)Ayet he remained silent. The pope, he argues, was a Germanophile who had been schooled as a diplomat: treaties (particularly one he'd drafted between Germany and Rome in 1933) and the Communist threat were his main priorities. Protection of Vatican City from Allied or Axis bombs was another. Phayer contends that, had the pope resisted the Nazis and informed his flockAeither overtly or through existing secret channelsAabout what was happening, there would have been many more Catholic rescuers and fewer collaborators than there were. Phayer also details the Church's postwar policies; it played its part in helping Nazis escape justice, he contends, rather than support efforts to force Germany to pay reparations to survivors. Phayer, however, doesn't only describe the years of Pius XII; he contrasts him with Pope Pius XI and Pope John XXIII (who respectively preceded and followed him), and in doing so he makes a forceful point about the difference strong leadership can make. Both Pius XI and John XXIII used their positions of infallibility to openly and publicly encourage cordiality and acceptance of Jews, culminating in the Church's 1965 declaration that the Jews were not responsible for crucifying Jesus. Pius XII, says Phayer, was in contrast a weak leader and a cowardly oneAand the author argues that, given the conditions under which he served, his lack of courage proved devastating. Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.


From Booklist
Marquette University historian Phayer has written about the role of Christian women in challenging Nazi Germany's "final solution." Here, he addresses the current debate over Pope Pius XII's role, partly by insisting the appropriate question is not "What did the pope do?" but "What did the church do?" Phayer broadens the discussion, devoting seven chapters to the Holocaust years and five to the postwar era. The first section considers prewar Catholic attitudes toward Jews; the Vatican's failure to respond to early genocide in Poland and Croatia; priorities that conditioned Pius XII's reaction to the Holocaust; and the responses of European bishops and of Catholics engaged in organized resistance. The second section addresses Vatican resistance to U.S. denazification efforts; priorities that conditioned Pius' postwar actions; interaction between Catholics and Jews after the war; and the rethinking that culminated in the rejection of anti-Semitism at the Second Vatican Council. Phayer's broader focus is valuable but will not likely overcome interest in "What did the pope do?" so long as many within the church are urging rapid canonization of Pius XII. Mary Carroll
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved


Book Description
"Very valuable . . . a fine and judicious book . . . " --Istvn Dek, New York Review of Books "A well-reasoned but damning overview of the Vatican's response to Nazi atrocities during and after WWII. . . . A fair and even-tempered account of a volatile subject." --Kirkus Reviews "Phayer makes an important addition to the literature of Holocaust studies: he provides evidence that Pope Pius XII . . . knew in early 1942 what was happening to Europe's Jews . . . yet he remained silent. . . . " --Publishers Weekly Throwing the spotlight relentlessly on Pius XII ("Hitler's Pope") has skewed the question surrounding Catholicism and the Holocaust, depriving us of a record of what the entire church did or did not do. Such a record is provided for the first time in the Michael Phayer's compelling book. Phayer shows that without effective church leadership under Pius XII, Catholics acted ambiguously during the Holocaust--some saving Jews, others helping Hitler murder them, the majority simply standing by. After the Holocaust, with Pope John XXIII at the healm, the church moved swiftly to rid itself of centuries-long antisemitic tradition.


About the Author
Michael Phayer is Professor of History at Marquette University. His two most recent books, Protestant Catholic Women in Nazi Germany and (with Eva Fleischner) Cries in the Night: Women Who Challenged the Holocaust, deal extensively with Catholic-Jewish relations before and during the Shoah.


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Phayer makes an important addition to the literature of Holocaust studies: he provides evidence that Pope Pius XII (who reigned over the Catholic Church from 1939 to 1958) knew in early 1942 what was happening to Europe's Jews (and to non-Jews in Croatia and Poland)--yet he remained silent. The pope, he argues, was a Germanophile who had been schooled as a diplomat: treaties (particularly one he'd drafted between Germany and Rome in 1933) and the Communist threat were his main priorities. Protection of Vatican City from Allied or Axis bombs was another. Phayer contends that, had the pope resisted the Nazis and informed his flock--either overtly or through existing secret channels--about what was happening, there would have been many more Catholic rescuers and fewer collaborators than there were. Phayer also details the Church's postwar policies; it played its part in helping Nazis escape justice, he contends, rather than support efforts to force Germany to pay reparations to survivors. Phayer, however, doesn't only describe the years of Pius XII; he contrasts him with Pope Pius XI and Pope John XXIII (who respectively preceded and followed him), and in doing so he makes a forceful point about the difference strong leadership can make. Both Pius XI and John XXIII used their positions of infallibility to openly and publicly encourage cordiality and acceptance of Jews, culminating in the Church's 1965 declaration that the Jews were not responsible for crucifying Jesus. Pius XII, says Phayer, was in contrast a weak leader and a cowardly one--and the author argues that, given the conditions under which he served, his lack of courage proved devastating. (Sept.) Copyright 2000 Cahners Business Information.|


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