Problems with Pacelli

Abstract

Christopher Dawson, the English Catholic historian, wrote an article entitled “The Sword of the Spirit” in the January 1941 edition of the Dublin Review. He condemned neutrality as an untenable position in the (then) current war. The scale of death and destruction was beyond anything previously imagined. To remain neutral in the face of such evil was immoral. Dawson cited Pope Pius XII in support of his argument:

Nevertheless, there is already a general realization that social and political issues have become spiritual issues—that the Church cannot abstain from intervention without betraying its mission… therefore the Church must take up her prophetic office and bear witness to the Word even if it means the judgment of the nations and an open war with the powers of the world… the principle of such action has been stated perfectly clearly by the present Pope in his address to the Lithuanian Minister a year ago…¹

As faithful, practicing Catholics, consecrated and lay, we urgently write to you concerning the cause of Pope Pius XII. We are educators who have conducted research and are currently carrying into effect more research on Catholicism under National Socialism and the Holocaust. The movement to press forward at this time the process of beatification of Pius XII greatly troubles us. Needless to say, the controversy over Pius XII’s actions during the Second World War and the Holocaust is long-standing.

Letter to Pope Benedict XVI from Catholic historians (February 16, 2010)