German Cardinal and Pope Hopeful is Former Nazi Youth Member


One of the likely candidates for the position of Pope is Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger - a former member of the Nazi Youth group known as Hitler Jugend. He didn't volunteer, however, as all pupils at at the 1941 St. Michael seminary were forced to join.

"Once I left the school I broke off all relations with the organization" he said. Nowadays the conservative-leaning Cardinal is one of the favorites for the top job in the Catholic Church.

Source: http://www.focus-fen.net/index.php?cati ... 2005-04-18

New pope likely to pursue John Paul II’s conservative line
(AFP)

20 April 2005


VATICAN CITY - Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, a man once known as “God’s Rottweiler” for his tenacity in defending Roman Catholic doctrine, is thought likely to maintain his predecessor’s deeply conservative line now that he has been picked to succeed him as Benedict XVI.

The new pope, who had been head of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith since 1981, draws gasps of horror from liberals, inside and outside the Church, but is lionized by conservatives.

Ratzinger has also attacked rock music, calling it “the expression of basic passions.”