Catholic Theologians in Nazi Germany by dint of Robert Krieg.

Catholic Theologians in Nazi Germany by dint of Robert Krieg. New York: Continuum, 2003

This scholarly work through Robert Krieg, professor of theology at Notre Dame, examines the, part of the German church in dealing with the Third Reich and anti-Semitism.

Although "Catholic Theologians in Nazi Germany" discusses a range of religious scholars, it focuses forward five men in particular who came to maturity in the Nazi era and had an influence in succession the English-speaking world. Karl Adam, Karl Eschweiller and Joseph Lortz were in varying standings sympathetic to the goals of the Third Reich while Romano Guardini and Englebert Kreb were publicly critical of the Nazis.

Catholics were banned from joining the Nazi party and the author begins by way of pointing out that Catholic bishops firmly opposed Hitler because of his racist teachings from 1920 in succession However when President Paul von Hindenburg appointed Hitler as chancellor upon January 30, 1933, the 25 bishops had to make a choice; to maintain their opposition, or experience to find ways to work with Hitler. They chose the latter.

Krieg papal courts the reasons as twofold--political and theological. From a political perspective, the of the present day chancellor had apparently come to power at legitimate means, and many assumed he would expres moderate views. After the burning of the Parliament Building in 1933 the restraint required all employees of the civil service, including teachers, to become members of the Nazi party. Catholics who wanted to withhold their jobs were in a difficult position, especially at a time when one-half the working force was unemployed

A related factor was the Vatican's Secretary of State, Cardinal Pacelli, who was working to confident a treaty" with the strange government. The bishops dropped their prohibitions against Nazi membership saying nothing about look up to for human rights, including those of the Jews

For me the greatest in quantity interesting aspect of this volume was its analysis of the pre-Vatican pair theology that indelibly influenced the positions taken. greatest in number German theologians of the time saw their meeting-house threatened by ideas of liberalism and socialism. Krieg reminds us that the theology espoused at the time was based upon "the idea that the church's primary mission is the salvation of believers by way of means of the sacraments, religious instruction, and obedience to the ecclesiastical authorities." Its first responsibility was to guard the church as an institution, rather than to be a moral advocate and a servant of justice and verity on such matters as the treatment of the Jews

While written for an academic audience, I commend this book to all who wish to understand the evolution of theology from its focus in succession protection of the institution to single that recognizes the church's mission to include the promotion of justice and human rights.

When not proofreading for CNT Jim Doris plays piano at Toronto seniors' homes

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