The Holocaust, the Church, and the Law of Unintended Consequences: How Christian Anti-Judaism Spawned Nazi Anti-Semitism, a Judge’S Verdict

by Anthony J. Sciolino

The image of Jews as "God-killers" and their refusal to convert to Christianity has fueled a long tradition of Christian intolerance, hatred, and violence. It is no surprise, then, that when Adolf Hitler advocated the elimination of Jews, he found willing allies within the Catholic Church and Christianity itself.

In this study, author Anthony J. Sciolino, himself a Catholic, cuts into the heart of why the Catholic Church and Christianity as a whole failed to stop the Holocaust. He demonstrates that Nazism's racial anti-Semitism was rooted in Christian anti-Judaism. While tens of thousands of Christians risked their lives to save Jews, many more-including some members of the hierarchy-aided Hitler's campaign with their silence or their participation.

Sciolino's solid research and comprehensive interpretation provide a cogent and powerful analysis of Christian doctrine and church history to help answer the question of what went wrong. He suggests that Christian tradition and teaching systematically excluded Jews from "the circle of Christian concern" and thus led to the tragedy of the Holocaust. From the origins of anti-Judaism and anti-Semitism and the controversial position of Pope Pius XII to the Catholic Church's current endeavors to hold itself accountable for their role, "The Holocaust, the Church, and the Law of Unintended Consequences" offers a vital examination of one of history's most disturbing issues.

Genres: History, Nonfiction

294 pages, Kindle Edition

First published December 26, 2012

Reviews

[Lewis Weinstein · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sciolino provides a useful overview of a truly despicable history. In particular, he shows how the Catholic Church supported the Enabling Act of 1933 which gave Hitler dictatorial powers, and that the Church never objected to the deportation and murder of Jews in the 1940s, of which they were well aware.

For my purposes, there were several references to Cardinal Michael Faulhaber of Munich which will be helpful to me in my novel-in-progress.

Cardinal Faulhaber … is a fascinating character. In the 1920s he appears to have been openly supportive of Jews, tolerant and opposing Nazi street violence and other forms of persecution. He was a member of a group called “Friends of Israel” until it was disbanded by the Vatican. In the 1930s, however, Faulhaber and other German bishops were forced by the Vatican to collude with Hitler, both before and during the Holocaust, so long as Church property and other assets were not taken.

It is of course the height of hypocrisy to claim to be a moral force in the world and yet to sit by without saying a word while millions were murdered simply for being Jews. For this the Catholic Church has never, in my opinion, sufficiently atoned. After the Holocaust, the main action of the Church was to ferociously keep hidden Vatican archives which described what it did and did not do. Even today, much of this record remains secret.

In my new novel …

I look forward to exploring how Cardinal Faulhaber, who I believe was actually a quite decent person, might have felt about the Vatican-generated facade in which he participated. He lived through it all, as Archbishop of Munich from 1917 to his death in 1952. Little is written by or about Faulhaber. Who, if anyone, was his confidant?

To show Faulhaber’s thoughts in the context of my story, I am creating a fictional young priest (Fr. Johannes) who will, through his discussions with Faulhaber, recognize the Church’s hypocrisy and the consequences of Church inaction for the Jews and the world. Fr. Johannes’ interactions with my main German character (Berthold Becker), if I can write those scenes the way I hope to, will be heartbreaking and damning.

Ah … the power of historical fiction.

[Lewis Weinstein]

I read the only portions relevant to my novel-in-progress. I was disappointed that Sciolino did not focus at all on the Reich Concordat and its relation to the Enabling Act that gave Hitler dictatorial power.

[Cam Hendricks · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a tough read that forced me to confront some difficult truths not only about preconceived notions of what the church was, but also what the church is today. Ultimately I am left pondering if we've learned our lesson or have we simply shifted blame to new marginalized groups that we deem lesser human and outside the care of the church.

[Walter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sadly enlightening history of mankind’s horrible capacity for individuals to be led to rationalise the absolute worst treatment of others either by their action or lack of while espousing their belief in the highest ideals.

[Patty Lazarus mcmullen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very interesting topic written by a very interesting guy

[Peter Bradley · Rating 1 out of 5]

My Amazon review -

http://www.amazon.com/review/R1K8SQSV...