1 Introduction 2 Pius XII and the Jews 3 Dismantling the Cross 4 A Dangerous Thing to Do 5 A New Syllabus of Errors 6 Desperately Seeking Culprits 7 The Land of What If 8 Something Deeply Shameful 9 How Not to Deal with History 10 To Avoid Worse Evils 11 Bigotry's New Low 12 Pius XII and the Nazis 13 Annotated Bibliography of Pius XII, the Second World War, and the Holocaust
Joseph Bottum is Books & Arts editor of The Weekly Standard. David G. Dalin is Professor of History and Political Science at Ave Maria University and the author of numerous books on American Jewry.
The Pius War will likely remain the definitive answer to the slew
of malicious and misleading books that have in recent decades
assailed Pius XII for his 'silence,' or worse, during the period of
Hitler and the Holocaust. The Pius War will likely be an important
resource in advancing the cause of Pius XII towarde his
canonization.
*First Things*
Stouthearted courage and vast wisdom are vital in those who come to
denounce the grievous defamation of a good man. The result is The
Pius War, this compelling book that deals a devastating blow to
those who claim to be combating anti-Semitism yet descend into
deceit, hate, and anti-Christianism. Read it and find yourself
stirred to indignation at how the smear of secularism stained a
righteous reputation, and be inspired by these brave authors who
herein right a historic wrong.
*Rabbi Daniel Lapin, President, Toward Tradition*
The contributors to this important volume have made judicious
arguments in defense of the actions of Pope Pius XII before,
during, and after the Holocaust. These arguments deserve an equally
judicious hearing from non-Catholics — especially from Jews — who
need to know how they are to judge this pope when they remember an
unforgettable event in their own history and in the history of the
West. Catholics, too, need to make equally judicious use of these
arguments in their own deliberations about the possible
canonization of Pius XII.
*David Novak, University of Toronto*
This volume provides a valuable corrective to the over the top
'Pope bashing' so prevalent in politically correct academic
circles. Taken as a whole the contributors' critique of the recent
attacks on Pope Pius XII's conduct during World War II offers a
compelling case for the defense. The annotated bibliography of the
dispute is an indispensable vade mecum for future scholars.
*Marshall Breger, Catholic University of America*
Rabbi David Dalin's omnibus review in the February 26, 2001, Weekly
Standard . . . opened and changed my mind. To see it here at the
center of this fine collection, buttressed by William Doino's
astonishing bibliography, is a great pleasure. David Dalin and
Joseph Bottum are indeed friends of truth.
*David Klinghoffer, author of The Discovery of God: Abraham and the
Birth of Monotheism and Why the Jews Rejected Jesus: The Turning
Point in Wester*
The Pius War . . . is one of the best volumes to emerge from the
controversy so far. . . . This is a tour de force of scholarship,
and highly readable to boot.
*National Review*
[An] outstanding new collection of defences of Pius.
*Literary Review, (U.K.)*
Henceforth, any scholar interested in writing the definitive
biography of Pope Pius XII must deal with this work.
*New Oxford Review*
This collection is to be strongly recommended both to specialists
in the field and a lay audience.
*The Catholic Historical Review*
During the Second World War, the New York Times praised Pope Pius
XII as 'a lonely voice crying out of the silence of a continent.'
After the war, Grand Rabbi Isaac Herzog of Jerusalem sent the Pope
a special blessing for 'his life-saving efforts on behalf of the
Jews.' Upon the death of Pius XII, Golda Meir observed that 'during
the years of Nazi terror, when the Jewish people went through the
horrors of martyrdom, the Pope raised his voice to condemn the
persecutors and to commiserate with the victims.' Yet, since the
publication of socialist writer Rolf Hochhuth's play Der
Stellvertreter in 1963, the Pope's reputation has suffered. Many
people believe that he was "silent" in the face of German
atrocities, and some even go so far as to suggest that he harbored
sympathy for the Nazis. Had the editors of the New York Times,
Grand Rabbi Herzog, and Prime Minister Meir all been duped? The
authors of The Pius War make the case that the praise Pius received
during and after the war was, in fact, well deserved. Far from
being "Hitler's Pope," as his most extreme critics have labeled
him, Pius XII did what he could, in extraordinarily difficult
circumstances, to aid the victims of Nazi terror—Jews and
Christians alike. Who is right? Fair-minded people will want to
read authors on both sides of the debate before settling their
minds. Those who have read the well-publicized works of Pius's
critics will find much to ponder in this collection of patient and
thoughtful writings in his defense.
*Robert P. George, Visiting Professor, Harvard Law School;
McCormick Professor of Jurisprudence, Princeton University*
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