By The Editors

Newly elected Pope Benedict XVI became a member of the Hitler Youth when he was 14 and was drafted into the German army when he was 16 where he shot down allied bombing raids as part of an anti-aircraft unit until he deserted the army in the final months of the war in 1945.

This all occurred more than a half a century ago, Ratzinger’s memoirs say that his family was quietly against the Nazis, Ratzinger himself was only enrolled in the Hitler Youth because his teacher enrolled his whole class against their will and he was living in conditions that the average modern world citizen cannot begin to undrstand. In other words, it is arguable that Ratzinger rebelled against the Nazis as much as he could without endangering his life. Because of this, it is further arguable, assuming this is all accurate, that he is owed some level of forgiveness for his participation in the Holocaust. This is especially true among the Christian community whose basic philosophy is that we are all sinners in the eyes of God and that we must forgive one another.

However, The level of forgiveness Joseph Ratzinger has been awarded sets a very high standard. The Catholic community has now stated officially that the extent of forgiveness that human beings should be awarded is such that a person who is involved in arguably the worst atrocity in human history can be eligible for the highest, most righteous position of spiritual leadership available. Catholics must never forget that they have done this and must apply this level of forgiveness anywhere that is appropriate.

A good place to start applying this newly strengthened endorsement of forgiveness is in the case of Stanley Williams. Stanley Williams was a co-founder of the crips and has just lost his last appeal against the death penalty earlier this year for four murders he committed during robberies. Williams was nominated for a Nobel Peace Prize in 2001 for work he has done towards keeping kids away from gangs. He has written numerous children’s books and has coordinated international peace efforts for youth. He has obviously changed his ways and should be forgiven. If a former Hitler Youth can be elected to the papacy, why should this man not be awarded his life?

The choice of Joseph Ratzinger is a profound statement about Christian forgiveness. Catholics should take this statement to heart and should come out vocally and actively for forgiveness in this case and other cases like it. If they do not, it will seem that the Catholic Church was not endorsing forgiveness in this election, but was rather only failing to acknowledge the seriousness of the Holocaust, again.