Tied up in the Rat Lines

making a very strong statement is effective to those who have no understanding of history - some of these comments by Jews are unbelievable and very ignorant. First, you attack a Pope (Pius XII) who until the mid sixties was a hero to your people until some play in Germany depicted him in a very unpleasant manner. Get your facts straight. Second, Croatian needs to feel shame for atrocities to all, not just Jews during WW II but please for goodness sakes understand the history and what is true and what isn't. How would you people feel if the world started saying you were war criminals because of how you lambasted Lebanon (how much was necessary and how much was unnecessary...how many innocent people lives have your people got bllod on their hands for?) and lets not mention Gaza...the whole world see's what you are doing. Not all Ustase were bad, in fact many or most were good. Croatia was forced to be part of the communist country of Yugo, thats why they opted to try and be free!

This Pope is dead, the War, WWII ended in 1945, 64 years ago. Anyone keeps spending time on this issue is heading backwards. Live is to build a future. We will all die, and history will still live, and WHAT ????

life is like a shit sandwich.The more bread your've got the less shit you eat.

Hitler WAS a DEVOUT Roman Catholic, in spite of Vatican attempts to re-write history. Try reading a bit, rather than continue to wallow in that deepening pit of ignorance you have dug. Religion has always been used as a mechanism of control of the Machiavellian against those who are not - viz. the majority. Hitler declared himself a devout Roman Catholic on MANY occasions both on the run up to his rise to power - for example in Mein Kampf - during that run up, and following his achievement of virtually absolute power. The Sheople of the "Lord" are much easier to lead, or rather mis-lead than people with a mind of their own - aka skeptics. Same reason G. W. Bush claims to have guidance from a "higher" father than his physical one, in order to excuse his mass murder, war crimes and treason that is the Iraq war. Ditto behaviour for many Israeli leaders, I'm sure. Try googling on things like "the Concordat" +1933, etc. Pit Rescue Team #1

Mr. Melman is stating facts. This are historical and we should be able to differentiate between fact and fantasy. I grant you the Catholic Church did their apologies;only after the truth was open for the world to see what historically happened. When one deals with history we cannot change it, or sugar coat it; may I say! But, if we all are smart enough we can all learn for what has happened to not repeat these mistakes.These are the facts hard as they are to admit for some. I do not take offense to facts I can't thats hypocritical and foolness to argue with the truth.

Not that I'm attempting to justify the killing of humans, either civilian or otherwise, but the anti-Serbian sentiment which pervaded the citizenry of the Croatian state during WWII must be contextualized. Contrary to Serbian chauvanist propaganda which endeavors to portray and villify the entire Croatian nation as being "genocidal", the anti-Serb feeling of most Croats is directly traced to the situation characterizing Royalist Yugoslavia 1928-1941 which has been deemed by impartial historians as "Royalist Fascism". In this state Croatians, and for that matter, anyone non-Serbian was persecuted for being "the other". Such prejudicial, state sponsored activity was even openly condemned by intellectuals such as Albert Einstein.

Popes defame themselves. Only those with their eyes open can see the hypocracy.

Well not exactly: the Ustasha did only kill 30,000 Jews, those unfortunates who could not pay bribes to the Pavelic government to be made honorary Aryans. The high ranking Ustasha did surprisingly have Jewish family members related in some cases to the party's founder, a vurulent anti Semitic Jewish convert to Catholicsm, Josip Frank. However there is no question about the massacre of Serbs by the Ustasha, whether it was only 200,000 or 700,000, it was still genocide and the Ustasha Treasury stolen loot.

There is absolutely NO historical validity to the sensationalistic and fabricated story concerning the basket of "human eyeballs". (and no Mr. Krajina, just because it appears on the internet, does not render an article historical fact). Numerous historians have discredited Italian author Curzio Malaparte's work as amounting to nothing more than fantastic dribble with no shred of truth contained within his sensationalistic tales. The "basket of eyeballs" is only one amongst a dung heap of fiction fabricated my Mr. Malaparte which he attempted to pass off as being primary source hisorical record.

Post WWII, the Serbian chauvanistic propaganda machine attempted to villify Croatian nationalists as anti-Semites; an accusation with not even a crumb of truth to it (as I've hopefully pointed out). Moreover, they have affectively managed to ensconce their own virulent anti-Semitism as evidenced by the pogroms which they launched against the Jewish population of Serbia during WWII. If you care to investigate world stamp catalogues, you will be surprised to unearth the sensational fact that the Serbian leadership in WWII even decided to issue a postage stamp commemorating the sordid celebration of Belgrade being declared the first European city which was "Judenfrie" or free of Jews. I hope your commentary in the future will be a little more infored and objective in scope, Mr. Melman.

As a nationalist Croatian, let me say that the anti-Semitic laws enacted by the Independent State of Croatia are a very nasty stain on our glorious thousand year old history. The authors of such xenophobic legislation were attempting to court favour with the German Nazis in whom they forsaw the winners of WWII and the ringleaders of the new "United Europe". Neverless, let it be known that the Croatian people has never historically had any sour relations with the state of Israel nor with its own Jewish minority. In fact, as the article metnions, many military leaders of the Independent State of Croatia were Croatian Jews, in excess of twenty army generals. Also, the supreme commander of the Croatian forces, General Slavko Kvaternik had a Jewish wife, while his son, Eugen, the chief of the Croatian secret police was accordingly a half-Jew. Why mention this? SEE NEXT ENTRY

Oh how my soul weeps for the tortured Serbians, who, like the Jews were RAPED and MURDERED by the Romish church. This is NOT, and I repeat, NOT news to the Protestant people. Former Jesuit Alberto Rivera spent years warning Americans of the dark cloud of assassinations, plots, torture, propaganda, genocides, and murderous wars triggered and supported by the Vatican. Courageous Alberto was poisoned at a church seminar a few years ago for his exposing the truth. And who is this MAN seated on the "Throne" today? Heaven help us!

Thank you Yossi Melman. The truth is coming out regarding the Ustases role in the murder of Serb, Jews and Roma in Yugoslavia and the role the Catholic Church had in helping war criminals escape capture. The Catholic church must pay for what they have done and they must not go unpunished!

Try MI6 by Stephen Dorril, has a very good account of the entire matter. There is also Soldiers, Spies, and the Ratline by Colonel James Milan who was inc ahrge of one of the ratlines and is trying toe xtricate himself...

Con amigos como ellos, no necessitamos enemigos

If you are so anxious for the truth why don't we start with youself. How about listing your real nameinsteead of being so cute. We know the popes have not all been so beneign and truthful down through the ages. Remember the Borgias? And think about today when there are so many pedifile priests. You are not for one minute equating them with G-d? They are after all only human beings who are supposed to be doing G-d's work. They are not infallable nor are they all innocent or good dispite the fact that they may call themselves Innocente.

for those who still doubt this story check this: http://www.pavelicpapers.com/ http://emperors-clothes.com/vatican/cpix.htm

How would you define repentance?

Don't confuse one Pope's apology with any criminality practiced by another Pope. And an apology without repentance means nothing, nada, zip zero! A papal pilgrimage to Jewish cemetaries in Europe with prayers and supplication for forgiveness would be a good start.Followed by Cardinals, archbishops and the like, too.

As a Cathlic, I am strongly in favor of this information (if is is accurate) being published. How any priest, bishop, or cardinal could have assisted in helping murderers escape capture is beyond my comprehension. Any living Catholic who participated should be publicly excommunicated for such blatantly immoral behavior. And then Italy or the EU should charge them with war crimes. Many people were hung for lesser crimes after the war. As for Jewish criticism of the Church, how could Jews not be angry and bitter toward the Church? They are entitled to their feelings, and it is important for Catholics (though depressing) to understand how Jews feel about our Church. Protestant criticism, however, I personally find amusing, and self-deluded. Was Protestant behavior any better? What evidence is there for such an assertion? None that I know of. I would strongly recommend that you Protestant bible-thumpers take a good look in a mirror.

The ill-informed nature of this article is demonstrated by the reference to "Vatican monasteries". The Vatican does not have any monasteries. The implication that the author tries to spin, that Montini was involved bothin the rat-lines and in plundering the property of victims of the holocaust is obscene and totally out of character with this humble and holy man. His complaint against Gowen would simply have been motivated by a breech of Vatican immunity. However bizarre that may seem to contemporaries, the defensiveness must be viewed against the background of the Concordat guaranteeing the position of Vatican City State and the fear (that persisted post-1870) that loss of territorial independence was a threat to the continuance of the papacy.

Thanks very much for the article! I`m happy to see the objective point of view in regards to the history of the WWII, ecpecially of the Balkan ``gunpowder burrel``. But, you`ve made a mistake: in Jasenovac there were 700 000 victims, more than 600 000 Serbs and around 50 000 Jews (I`m not sure about the last number...) And conotation can indict that Croats were majority in the partisan movement which is totally wrong: Serbs were overwelming carriers in the both of rebelions: royalist and communist... Once more thanks!

Shimon Peres is a Vatican agent. Why do the Jews of Israel succomb to this 2000 years of buthery? when they have the power to end it? This dismatelling of Israel by Rome and its agents with in Israel, is same as the destruction of the 3rd Temple by Rome. Same as when Jesus lived.

text are long but interesting to understand the cross linked messy international plays for the corridors for gas oil mining and mafias http://www.globalpolitician.com/articleshow.asp?ID=500&cid=3&sid=10 so bad It all went worst when some international nazi lobbies killed rabin...and there's full of them... also recently another croatian general was hiden into a church in croatia...which IMO is seemingly seen by those powers as sort of Paraguay is in South America... a cove of bandits of all sorts

While I have heard many absurd things said about Hitler, I must say claiming he was a devoted member of ANY religion rates pretty high among them. If anything, he was against all religions as potential restricters of the power of his state.

No disrespect intended Reverend. In my hast to respond I misread your name. Another suggestion we take more time to think before we respond?

I can understand the reverend's discomfort over the testimony leading the accusation that yet another pope is implicated in crimes against the Jewish people, and other innocents during and following Shoah. But this discomfort is based on denial, allowing faith to overcome logic. Or perhaps an elected ignorance about the conduct of his church prior to, during and following the Holocaust. Not a very good basis upon which to accuse the victims of nearly 2,000 years of what amounts to a continuing holocaust, the slaughter of Europes Jews during the Crusades, the Inquisition and endless pogroms which spanned the centuries and even included Polish Catholics attacking Jews trying to return home from Europes death camps following Shoah. Rev, Vill, faith clouding facts only perputuates the past. Read more, wish less.

Vicente Hernandez says: "I would like to bring back to the readers` memory the solemn apology made by Pope John Paul II in 2000 for the mistakes the Church may have committed against the beloved Jewish people. Many times during the pontificates after the II World War, the succesive Popes have manifested their apologies and the great respect of the Catholic Church for the Jewish people" Really? Why then was it as late as 1961 that the Catholic Church removed the phrase "perfidious Jew" from its official meanderings? Why did the last "Papa" beatify Stepinac, a patron saint of genocide, if anything. This was pretty recent, late 1990s, early 2000s. Why was Hitler's Mein Kampf never placed, and still isn't, on the Roman Catholic Church's Banned List? Because Hitler was, in fact, a devout Catholic, perhaps? On the other hand, Galileo's treatise about a Sun centred Solar System was only removed from that list in the early 1990s. Weird priorities, wouldn't you say?

My gut reaction to this story is that this will be shown to be spurious just like the story that alleged Pius XII refused to give up Jewish children sheltered by Catholics after the war. This sounds lime more anti-Catholic bigotry nothing more nothing less. This includes the libel about the silence of Pius XII. The Holocaust continues to be used as cover to fuel current anti-Catholic and anti-papal agenda.

Hercegovnian and Montenegran are my heritage, usually referred to as "Serbian". . .your article is of high interest to me as I, too, lost family members during WWII. I have always bonded well with those of the Jewish faith because of the crimes committed against all Eastern Europeans. . .Worldwide publication of this information is vital to the furtherance of "Total Democracy" for the world. . .we've all known of these actions. . .but no one was ever willing to act on it, nor to publish these "hidden" facts. The Simon Wiesenthal Center has done phenomenal work with regard to the atrocities. . .and the work still cannot stop and must resolve and make public all of the atrocities. Thank you for this article.

In my response I referred to the two Loftus-Aarons books. I'm not aware of others by these authors. And I am certainly interested in other books on the subjects discussed in this article.

The news may be that a California court is hearing Gowen's testimony for the first time. But the story was already told in far more detail in two volumes co-authored by John Loftus and Mark Aarons, The Secret War Against the Jews, and the earlier Unholy Trinity. On first reading I admit to skepticism; the charges against the Vatican, the US and British government for complicity in saving Nazi war criminals from trial following the war/holocaust sounded incredible. Those super-patriots, the Dulles brothers, respectively heads of the US State Department and OSS/CIA laundering money for Nazi war criminals and their American business partners in crime; American policy of not offering sanctuary for Jews, even withholding visas available and never used. The passive complicity of the Vatican in the Holocaust, of Pius XII and Montini later Paul VI in sheltering Nazis, protecting their stolen wealth and transporting them to nazi-friendly countries. The above books are readable and detailed.

When the catholics saved the jews during the war it was done only by "their individual capacities, personal choices",but if some catholics helped the nazi flee in south america it was done "by the church".The merit only for individuals, and the guilty for the entire church.Very strange logic indeed.

Moshe Sharett, Israel's first foreign minister and second prime minister, upon meeting Pope Pius XII during the war: "I told [the Pope] that my first duty was to thank him, and through him, the Catholic Church, on behalf of the Jewish public, for all they had done in various countries to save Jews, to save children, and Jews in general. We are deeply grateful to the Catholic Church." Emilio Zolli, chief rabbi in Rome during the German occupation: "no hero in all of history was more militant, more fought against, none more heroic, than Pius XII."

In a world made dangerous by the islamist fanatics,where the jews and christians are together treated of destruction,we must fight together and instead of this here we are hating each other.Human foolishness is an example of the infinite.

The replies in this forum show that hate and total ignorance are not only of the anti-semites. Shame on you! Instead of spitting words of hatred and of no consinstence,seek to study honestly. What one reads here is the same as reading the Protocols of the Sages of Zion.

A sad story all the case was scanned here http://www.pavelicpapers.com/ The court docs http://www.vaticanbankclaims.com/

This information is not new. It was published before, years ago, as a matter of fact. It was simply a taboo to talk about it, just like it was a taboo to talk about the British and the US part in the Holocaust. John Loftus wrote several books after his stint in the Justice Department investigating Nazi war criminals in the US and one of them dealt with Vatican?s role in helping Nazis flee justice. After reading one of his books, I read them all. Interesting staff. Of cause there are more recent books, with more up to date documentation, as materials became declassified. Revisionism? Hardly. Information has been in public domain a very long time --just not on front pages.

Vicente, the list of institutions more loving and respectful towards Jews than the Catholic Church would probably fill several volumes. In small print. I lived in Madrid for a year in the 1980's, by the way. I found that classical anti-semitic canards were universal there: the Jews ran the world, the Jews owned the press, the Jews owned the banks, etc. This was all the more ironic since, due to the success of the Inquisition centuries ago, most Spanish people have never actually met a Jew. Vicente, when I was studying at Hebrew school as a boy, Catholic youngsters returning home from catechism classes often stopped at the synagogue to yell "dirty Jews" and "Christ killers" at us while we played outside. Where did they learn such hateful things? Why, at catechism, of course. And this was in the 1960's, Vicente, not the 1560's. Vicente, you need to stop lving in a dream world. Eli

Vicente I am very surprised that you forgot the santa inquisicion and many other massive killings of jews, You see I in Mexico know first hand of the terrible killings done by the spanish inquisition. I was in Toledo Spain, and so the history of how Jews were treated at the pleasure of the king (don Pedro). It is only in the last few years since that the church wants to ask for forgivnes for all the terrible things the church did on to the Jews for hundreds of years.plus, The church is very afraid of moslems and need the help of Jews tho counter the wave of Islam. SUDENLY in all western countries for everything now they say THE JUDEO CHRISTIAN TRADITIONS". QUE, DE REPENTE LE SALIO A LA IGLESIA CATOLICA AMOR POR LOS JUDIOS??.

On the net Serb and Croat sites continue to this day to debate the description in Curzio Malaparte's book Kaputt of a basket full of human eyes, which Pavelic had apparently on display in his office.

To describe Pope Paul VI as a cynical or even sinister manipulator pulling strings behind the scenes is mind-boggling. The enclosed photo shows him in all his innocence and genuine humanity: http://libraries.cua.edu/images/HowTanMon1951.jpg

The Catholic Church did indeed help Nazis escape right after the war. This was also true of the Red Cross. Indeed, it was true of the Soviets, the CIA, and the British secret services. What makes the acts of the Church particularly despicable is that it presents itself as a moral guardian and spiritual leader. It is true that some members of the Church helped Jews during the war, but they acted in their individual capacities, and many of them have been recognized by Yad Vashem. It is also true that Pope John XXXIII and Pope John-Paul XX did a lot to improve relations with the Jewish people, and that the blood libel of deicide against the Jews has been dropped. It is also true that it took the Church many decades to recognize Israel, and to act responsibly regarding the Jewish state and the Jewish people. Tragically, the Curch has too much on its conscience regarding the Jewish people, and it will take some time to erase two thousand years of persecutions.

Seeing this article from the title to the last of the commentaries made I just can see pure cynicism. From the photo of card. Montini (one of the worst possible) to the disguting opinions insulting the catholic church, its hierarchy and anyone having anything to do with it. It's a great sample of the way some jews look at others. When dialogue and respect is offered to them, insults and cynicism come as answers. Mr Melman can accuse of money laundry or robber without evidence and no one gets surprised or ashamed for it. What would happen if anyone writes that Ben Gurion was a killer or that the State of Israel violates international laws much more than Iran does? This hypocrisy is simply vomitive.

Why they still don't open their archives for public to see? What kind of " secrets" they are hiding 60 years after the war?

Check these things out for yourself, the evidence is everywhere for the antics of the RCC. The power of the Catholic Church is immense and she knows no shame or limits. The Rat Lines is no secret there have been books and documentary films on it. Another of the Croatian war criminals, Alojzije Stepinac, was made a "Saint" by John Paul 2. A peek into RCC power was seen by how many world leaders and other key figures went to JP's funeral, many of whom had nothing in common except a desire for power. A while after WW2 the Vatican made a special effort to enter the battle for the minds of men by using the world's media. There was an encyclical put out by the "Pope" to call Catholics everwhere to enter any kind of job in the media. Editors, photographers, technicians, directors, ... Also any position in education, anything so that the Church would increase it's power to form public opinion. The Bible says that she repented not of her deeds and reigns over the kings of the earth.

People need to realize that the same Roman Catholic Church that has harassed and burned Jews at the stake and converted Jewish children to their brand of idolatry for 1600 years , has no intention on changing from its basic dogmas. They believe that they have replaced Jews and G-d's chosen people, and everything they do and say is filtered through this belief. To try and peacefully co-exist with a religion that holds to this false premise is an exersize in futility. The political correctness displayed at the present by The Vatican is only in place until a time that The Pope sees an opportunity to oppose Jews again. Don't be fooled again.

This is in reasponse to Mr. Billington's request. The documentary on the "Ratlines" was done by ABC, May 5, 1994. If it isn't available from ABC contact me. doctorgas36@juno.com

The subject has been dicussed by a former deputy head of MI5, George K Young, in his book 'Who is my liege?' [London 1972]. Cardinal Montini as he then was, refused a suggestion by the Allies - made in 1944 - to get info thorugh Church contacts about leading Nazis actively involved in the extermination of Jews and others. George K. Young was not Jewish he was not even pro-Jewish in any way, to put it mildly. Yet he was shocked by Cardinal Montini's negative reply and by the way it was delivered. Its well worth to read all this in the original.

The article helped to make the whole issue more prominent. But it needs to be said that the Serbs were the main victims killed at the Jasenovac concentration camps, by a very large majority, including small tens of thousands of infants and women.

Why are some always expected to turn the other cheek? Why should there be different standards? Jews seem to be the scapegoat for most of the world's problems. Even if not involved, they are singled out for retribution. When the perpetrators eventually are caught and have to own up, they just say sorry and that is supposed to end the matter? Why this double standard? Why can't all people the world over be treated the same

Every Bible believing christians are aware that the 'Holy' Roman Catholic Church is a phony christian church. This church is an imitation of the true Church founded by Jesus Christ back in Jersualem almost 2000 years ago. It got its own version of Jesus Christ and use almost all names in the New Testament to setup and justify their old pagan idols. The Roman Catholic Church is the 'Mother of All Harlots and Abominations' and is the enemy of Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ himself will make sure that justice will be served on this evil institution. The massive crimes of this evil institution cannot be justified by mere compassion and apologies. While these statements are strong and offending to faithful catholics, the Lord Jesus Christ still loves you with an overstrecthed arm and wants you to get out of this evil institution and serve the true Jesus Christ of the Bible.

I'm happy of the publication of the facts about the pro-Nazi Popes, or the current one, a real live Hitler youth, swastika wearing, Nazi soldier! I've been sick and tired about the accusations that the Popes, and their Vatican's crime was "silence" and "cowerdice" unbefitting a religious leader. I wish they were silent and cowards. Reality, they were PUBLIC, ACTIVE SUPPORTERS of Hitler, from the first "concordat", when the rest of the world was shunning Hitler, diplomatically, their full support of him during the war, the Vatican's issuing of documents to help Nazi's like Eichman escape, after the war, and being the first to embrace Waldheim after his SS Colonel records came out, while his was shunned by the rest of the world! This current, real live Nazi pope, who ommitted Isreal from his long list of terrorist victims, and his ommission of any sympathy for Sharon, during his current illness, is just more of the same.

There was a time when everything bad one said about jews he was believed.Nowadays all the other way-everything bad you say about the Catholic Church is believed.This is the time of that poor booklet for ignoramuses,that DaVinci Code.Yes,the Pope was pro-nazi,pro-communists,pro-CIA,pro-everything.Yes,all true.If you are satisfacted so,you deserve nothing better.Vulgus vult decipi.

It is okay to examine our past, to look at the mistakes made by our parents, our grandparents, others etc. Whenever we look at the past we have to examine also the contexts of the events. For instance, we know that the present Pope was a member of the Hitler Youth Movement, but the context was that it was mandatory. From my reading, I can also see that many or most of the Palestinians were expelled by Israel from their villages but the context was it was necessary for this to happen in order for Jews to have a Jewish state with a Jewish majority. The Palestinians must also examine their past to see that their land was formerly the property of others and the cooperation and participation by Muslims and the Grand Mufti in the Holocaust is also taken into account. Here is the problem with the Catholics, the Jews, and the Palestinians. Each can not reconsile the past decisions of their fathers and go on. Infallibility, justice, and guilt. Focus on what needs to be done now. Bomb Iran.

Asi Vicente, you want 2000 years of persecution, humilliation and murder to be forgoten by a pope asking for forgivness, not from the Church and its doctrines preached daily againt Jews, but his " atonement" was for those "individuals" that personaly slandered Jews, persecuted them and murdered them. But those milenium of incitement saw the slaugter of entire Jewish communities during the "cursed" crusades, expulsions beigng the one from Spain the biggest but not the only one, The " cursed" Inquisition wich law is still valid in Church legislation, the installment of ghettos in "catholic" cities, one of the first was in Rome on a Popes orders, and lately, remember the shamful "concordat" in wich Pacelli, later to be Pius XII gave Hitler backing and legitimacy, and not to mention the absolut silence of the Church on the Holocaust, please do not dare tell me that the church was not aware it was happening. When the Church repents for its actions, then we will know it wii mend .

Why this mr Gowen waited 60 years for his testimony? 60 years of silence,and why to speak now?What reason of this strange behaviour?

A few years ago I watched a video on "The Ratlines" which told the convincing story of all this. It contained several interviews with people from the Vatican (including a historian by the name "Father Graham" I remember, as well as those involved in the British operation. William Gowen was mentioned in it also. I do not know who did the video (or TV documentary) but it sure was powerful stuff. If anyone knows of this video, or where a copy might be obtained, I would be grateful if they could let me know. Paul Billington.

"So what if the Croats went a little to far they were still "good Christians"!" Funny you should use the word "christians". Look closer and you'll see their declaration against Orthodox Christianity, as well. This group has been the thorn in the side of Catholicism since the birth of Catholics. It still goes on in Israel when talking about the "ownership" of christian holy sites. When I was young, I remember a nun telling me that "Catholicism is the only true religion, everyone else will die in hell". Nice words of support for a 9-year-old, but then again, intimidation always was the modus oparendi. I hope the new pope follows in the footsteps of the greatest Pope in history - Pope John Paul II.

Peoples who believe in different books have to be oponents, espeshially if the central karakter (in the sky) in each book says the people who believe in this book are speshial more than other peoples. So the top priests or rabbis or imams of the different peoples cannot accept others becasue it will go against their speshial position, no matter what they say. The solution is to understand that it's only books of stories and legends that someone invented, even if it's very long time ago, and the pope and others like him are just people in fancy cloths who repeat invented stories. Cant all the writers of letters here invent their own stories to live by, that they need to live inside old storeies invesnted by others that dont make any sense? Grow up and get a life of your own, is what you should all do.

The vatican was more concerned about Communism and it's principles then what happened to Jews (the old Blood Liable)...So what if the Croats went a little to far they were still "good Christians"!Were if the communists took over, the Vatican would be out of BUSINESS!

Candide Secrett in his perversity did hit upon something interesting. Moreover, several respondents have signalled that there's too much talk 60 years after the holocaust about the killing acts of various groups.Let's just pass over it. Iran now wants to have a holocaust convention. I say, bring it on. Bring the mountain of documents, witnesses, photos et. al. and show what really happened. La verdad! Turn that conference around to finally put the nail into the coffin of those holcaust deniers and their camp followers.And if some of the blame goes to the highest levels of any church, air it out and tell it to the world

The only way to honor the people who suffered during the war is to find all the truth, and if some of the organizations and members of the church were realy responsible for crimes they must face justice. However, knowing the moral values of the catholic church and some history I found it hard to believe that the pope and those with high responsabilities in the church really knew about and participated in such crimes. In fact, during the second world war, the church probabily saved the lives of 700 000 to 800 000 jews and Montini is said to have been one of the responsibles for helping them. But, again, everything should be investigated and the truth must be found.

Reading the article, it tells a testimony by an American Officer. he is NOT Jewish. The issue is NOT the Pop and the Jews. The issue is CRIMES against humanity. Serbs & Roamns are human beings as well. I see no reason to criticize Mr Melman. He brings the American story.

I hope that one lesson we Jews draw from this story is that we were not the only ones oppressed by the Catholic Church of the time, or even the Nazis for that matter; and that we work harder to form alliances and demand Justice for and Repentance to all oppressed people.

History teaches us that religious hierarchies react no differently than political hierarchies; particularly when under pressure. Despite the trappings of God and morality, human consciousness exhibits the same tired reactions: "Us vs. Them", take care of your own, protect the tribe, rationalize cruelty, etc." In fact, in extreme cases (Hamas, radical settlers) religion fosters a delusional system which rationalizes barbaric behavior. Did you really expect anything different from the hierarchy of the Catholic Church? A new consciousness is being born...many are hearing its call..in which we see the true reflection of self in the "other". I doubt whether you will find in the religious hierarchies. S.T.

Melman's article was quite interesting. It is probably true. It corroborates with other historical evidence about the Vatican's despicable behavior towards the Jews during the period of the Shoah, which is just a logical continuation of 2000 yrs of Church ideological hatred towards the Jewish People. The BBC refers to the current Pope Benedict, as "God's Rottweiler", as he was the head of the "Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith" - more commonly known as the Inquisition. But now that they issued Nostra Aetate, we Jews are supposed to forgive and forget. Just like the Holy Inquisition, the current leftist regime that rules Israel has laws that forbid the dissemination of truth, and of course such laws are ipso facto democratic and just because they were passed by a Knesset majority. In particular, in the State of Israel it is a criminal offense to say or write anything that offends religious sensibilities, regardless of the truth of the statements. Beware Messrs Melman & Landau!

Justice will never be servedm because those who seek it do not have real power. Money=power=money. Simple enough. It is really sad, but true.

In my life I still have not seen any institution with a 2000-year history making such a deep, true and sincere apology like the one made by the Catholic Church in 2000. That has not seemed to make any sense for many of the people that have commented Mr Melman's article. Some have said that apology is "inaction". I think that each and everyone on Earth would like to be able to fix the mistakes made in the past, but it's impossible. Past is gone and what lasts from it it's just the will of never making the same mistakes again. So does the Church. The past cannot be changed, and what truly makes the difference is to look forward trying to make a better future. The accusations against Paul VI are false from its roots. No one should forget that the greatest loves for a Catholic are Jews: Jesus of Nazareth and the Holy Virgin, St. Mary.

This is only happening in recent times. Especially after the papacy of John Paul II. When he himself opened the doors of communications with the Jews. Prior to that the doors were closed.

Poor cathoilics! Everyone is picking on them even small boys raped by priests! America under clinton backed the muslims in Kosovo a bad decision. Most Albanians heeded the Mufti's call to "help" the nazi's.

It is difficult to discuss this issue without sufficient historical knowledge. If it is true what Mr Melman has written then the actions of the people involved have to be condemned. However, it is more important to learn a lesson form this historical events. I hope that we Jews will not be described in a similar way in some 60 years. Extermination of another nation, theft, extortion of properties, protection of criminals is shameful to everybody, to Israeli state as well. Let's try to be better than Croation nationalists. We should not kill anybody because God has promissed us some land as our exclusive property.

Whatever happened to 'thou shalt not kill, steal, lie' ? Apparently the anti-democratic hierarchy of the vatican has considered them nothing more than the Ten Suggestions, as they have throughout the last millenium. A difference between Catholics and Jews is that with the Jews you cannot merely ask God for foriveness if you have wronged another person, you must ask forgiveness from that person as well. Catholics are not really prone to truth and responsibility (as the comments here show), and believe they can cleanse themselves with 'sorrow', 'remorse' or other vaporish 'feelings'. Nobody should care about 'feelings' nor should anyone be deceived by their expression. The only things that matter are historical truth and responsibility, and in these matters the Vatican has a lot to own up to. If they want 'forgiveness' from the Jews for their crimes against them throughout the 20th century, the mendacity must end and they could start by opening up their archives to all historians

He did well, finally a great pope!!

If we are going to turn a story about the Vatican and the Ustashe during WW2 into another diatribe about lost "Palestinian" homes, don't forget to mention all the lost Jewish homes from your Arab brethren countries, or the fact that our Arab cousins just discovered the Temple Mount from thin air and decided, "Gee this would be a nice place to put the Al Aksa Mosque and Haram Al Sharif." Your history is far from clean too.

You know many Jewish families today live in Pals houses and land , even children were stolen from Pals families ....I guess becouse they went through this in europe they wanted other to feel the pain , oh well I feel very sad for all this anyhow !!!! But the church made an appolgy and really helped Isreal ,,,,maybe it is Isreal turn to forgive ,,,and appolgies for the PAls

Jews are appreciative that the Catholic Church is now respectful of Judaism and recognizes the covenant between G-d and his chosen people. But this does not absolve the Church from responsibility for its past crimes against the Jewish people. And these crimes took place not only centuries ago, but also during and after World War II.

It seems that this talkback has turned into permanent difamation of the Catholic Church. It is true that centuries ago the attitudes towards the Jewish people were nothing but unfair, as the very Church has admitted. But I do not consider as acceptable that, while the Church is trying to build a true and based-on-consideration relationship with the Hebrew world, some people stays stuck in the same cliches once and again. The insults seen in this talkback have no basis and are even disgusting.Though there have been moments of darkness between Jews and the catholic world, I cannot imagine a single institution more respectful and loving towards Jews than the Catholic Church.

This is a very complex multifasceted story that cannot be adequately surveyed in a single article. For excellent background to this story I suggest the chapter on Croatioa in John Cornwell's "Hitler's Pope".

#9 -- yes Xhixhi, your Albanian brothers were to a large extent enthusiastic Nazi collaborators, if not as brutally efficient as the Croat Ustache. If not for Tito, the slaughter in the Balkns would have been even worse. #10 -- your Popes do a good enough job of defaming themselves, as does your church. You are masters at covering up and sweeping under the rug atrocities that range from complicity in genocide to perverted sexual abuse of children. Shame on you.

Hello Nathan About this pope: What a big cover up this has been for so many decades! Nevermind being a thief whoever the person may have been.WHAT ABOUT THE POPES COLLABORATION WITH THE NAZIS! WE HAVE KNOWN THIS FOR MANY YEARS AND WE SHOULD ASK THE VATICAN TO PRODUCE AND OPEN THEIR FILES FOR THE WHOLE WORLD TO SEE.

the madness is in our enemies.

Why is it that it's OK for the jews to try to revise history some 60+ years after the fact when memories, comments, opinions and recollection of facts have their own "agenda", and yet it's not cool to look too deeply into the holocaust with maximum transparency just to see exactly how many jews were cooked in the ovens and other related issues! If we are going to have "openness", let it all hang out...including judaica 'protocollism', some such as "the delivering into a very small segment of the world population so much economic and political power!" Viva la veridad!

Please, stop defaming our Popes.Judge yourself before judging others. We should together pray for the Peace of the World.

The information shared by Dr. Alberto Rivera is true! Please read @ www.chick.com for more info.

Please, stop defaming our Popes. You are mad.

For the moment is important, to research for the role of every Ballkan nation in helping or injure the Jews during WWII. Is fact that (not in this case) but in perception of people to see some Balkans nation with sympathy but the truth is that they was the enemy of Jews and all the humanity.

Appologies :) - As if I am sorry is such a difficult thing to do. What about opening the archives and giving access to the true complicity of the Church. What about providing information re the Jewish children stolen by the church so they will know their families. "I am sorry" is an over abused statement to cover inaction

Does this surprise anyone? The historic record of the Catholic Church is one of latent and at times blatent anti semitism.

After reading this article, I feel very upset with the vision of Pope Paul VI Mr. Melman is trying to transmit. The information given about Cardinal Montini, that some years after would become Pope is radically false, and shows hate and a mistrustful look at the Catholic Church. I would like to bring back to the readers' memory the solemn apology made by Pope John Paul II in 2000 for the mistakes the Church may have committed against the beloved Jewish people. Many times during the pontificates after the II World War, the succesive Popes have manifested their apologies and the great respect of the Catholic Church for the Jewish people ("our older brethren in faith, as John Paul II liked to say). It is also known the help given by the Catholic Church to many Jews during the Nazi persecution in Italy and many other countries. Having these facts in mind, it is difficult to find any reason why the acussations stated by Mr. Melman should be taken into consideration.

ill bet the pope has alot of stolen loot in his basement.lets ask him for a look. if he says no,youll know that hes got traceable goods. at any rate what ever found should be returned to the rightfull owners.

after a major terrorist incident the present pope kept quiet while he mouthed a series of recent atrocities.no more popery.

Well, there is no doubt that certain elements within the Church have nothing to be proud of from the war period. Yet, you cannot speak that hard about the Church as such, since there were thousands who helped the oppressed and died helping them as well. And certainly one cannot write that the catholic world has been the cruelest to the Jews. Perhaps I have missed something but I really do not recall ever seeing the Nazi and Communist regimes having anything to do with catholicism...

It's about time this issue was fully explored. The silence of the Catholic Church was revolting enough but their support for the Ustasha was beyond the pale. The leading Catholic Croatian official, who blessed the Ustasha regime, Archbishop Stepinac, was elevated by the Catholic Church and turned into a hero when he was tried for his crimes in Yugoslavia after the war and rightfully imprisoned. Frankly, he deserved to hang. There is no question that the Catholic Church supported the Ustasha--the most revolting of all the fascist and pro-Nazi movements in WWII. The Phalange of the Balkans. They disgusted even the Germans. Yet Croatian crimes were covered up for too long simply because Yugoslavia was communist. If the Catholic Church is sincere in its efforts to abandon millenia of anti-Semitism, then the Church must admit their criminal collaboration with the Ustasha and ending their idolizing of pro-Ustasha Croatian Catholics like Stepinac.

then why should we be surprised if paul v1 was a thief? and have previous popes been well known for their good behaviour to jews? and has it not been the catholic world that has been the most oppressive to the hebrew nation?