What If

There are so many “what ifs” along the road to the Holocaust and I struggle with ways that may have muted or perhaps even prevented the gas chambers.

One of the ones that constantly makes it to the forefront of my consciousness is the realization that the beauty of the Christian message was distorted by many through the ages and even followers who sat in the chair of St.Peter issued rules and regulations which made the Jews targets for persecution and even death. Their actions created special garb that Jews had to wear and places that confined their abodes, and occupations that were forbidden to them. Hitler used these fertile historical indignities to further the hatred and bias that had been simmering for centuries. Martin Luther wished that the Jews would be obliterated and even burned to death.

Certainly this was not true of all Popes, clergy and the Christianity community but what would have happened if there had been less silence and more witness?

There is great controversy around what Pope Pius Xll did during the Nazi reign. Some detractors cast him as an uncaring political Pontius Pilate while others sanctify his name and present data to prove he cared and saved thousands of Jews. Both sides are absolute and the rancor is deafening. I personally after years of research believe he detested the Nazis and did what he thought was right, but

I also believe he could have one much more. He was the greatest moral voice in the world ,and there is no way of knowing, but I believe if he had been more public with opposition others would have followed.

The biggest what if for me is the question of what would Pope Francis have done? I come down on the side that he would have gone out on the Loggia and proclaimed to the world openly without couched papal speech that these atrocities against the Jews must stop immediately. I think he would have excommunicated every perpetrator of the evil regardless of the consequences.