{"headlinelight18"/}Pope Pius XII helped Jews
Eric Stone (Jan. 21) claimed the Catholic church did little to stop the Holocaust.
A 1963 play claimed Pope Pius XII supported Hitler and the Holocaust. A rash of books continued the attacks.
Some Jewish intellectuals and Modernists Catholics continue this campaign because Pope Pius XII represents the great legacy of traditional Catholicism.
Massive evidence shows Pope Pius XII probably did more than any one person or leader of a major institution to rescue Jews.
An encyclical, by Pope Pius XI, condemning Nazism was smuggled into all parishes in Germany and read from all pulpits on Palm Sunday, March 21, 1937, with the help of Cardinal Pacelli, (the future Pope Pius XII).
Sir Martin Gilbert, a Jew, a world-noted historian and expert on World War II and the Holocaust, was asked about Pope Pius XII. He replied, "Read my books, Never Again' (2000) and The Righteous' (2003). I've written extensively about the Catholic church whose leaders played a remarkable part in rescuing Jews."
He stated, "Christians were the first Nazi victims but at every stage, the church never hesitated. When the SS came on short notice for Roman Jews, Pope Pacelli had already hidden 4,000."
He added, "I am not unaware that some Christians violated their faith but it was in spite of it not because of it."
Historian Rabbi David Dalin reported, "Pacelli used Vatican money to rescue Jews; gave the chief rabbi 100 pounds of gold from melted religious vessels; organized an underground network and saved hundreds of thousands."
John Cornwell, in "Hitler's Pope," states, "To make Pius XII a saint would be a decisive victory for traditional Catholics over the modernists interpretation of Vatican II."
In a Time magazine article (Dec. 23, 1940), Albert Einstein stated, "Only the Church stood squarely across the path of Hitler's campaign."
Rita Armstrong
Oneonta
{"headlinelight18"/}Sidney needs parking lot
I am writing to make everyone in the Sidney Central School District aware of the vote on Proposition 2: the purchase of the Bogart property adjacent to the middle school for the purpose of building a much-needed school parking lot.
As anyone who drives his or her children to school or attends assemblies or sporting events knows, the school does not have enough parking. The situation that exists now is a dangerous one.
Despite the efforts of the Sidney Traffic Flow Committee, (composed of parents "" including myself, teachers, administrators and input from police and fire departments) to create a safe environment for our children, people who cannot find parking spaces park in fire lanes and block traffic every day. Bad weather, assemblies and sporting events make the situation worse. With the purchase of this land, the district could build a sizable parking lot that would benefit all three schools.
Our school has expanded just about as far as it can go in all directions. Will we ever get another chance to purchase a lot that is literally next door to the school? Probably not. Consider, also, that our schools are under-enrolled. If there is a surge in enrollment in the future, the school's traffic and parking problems will increase without additional parking.
A new parking lot would also benefit residents who live on streets surrounding the school, because it would eliminate the need for parents to park on side streets.
Photos and more information can be found on Page 9 of the district newsletter for May. Please remember to vote so that we can keep our children safe and keep our own sanity when we are trying to drive and park on campus.
Heather Schwartz
Masonville
{"headlinelight18"/}Don't ignore missing funds
In the Jan. 11 edition of your paper, you ran an article regarding the Delaware County Support Collection Unit. Allegedly there are missing funds and an employee who has left the unit. An audit was performed by the state Comptroller's Office and an investigation by the state Attorney General's Office was pending. Delaware County Supervisor Eisel was quoted as saying an exit interview with the state Comptroller's Office was imminent.
Four months have passed with no public statement from either of the state agencies involved, or from the Delaware County Board of Supervisors.
How much money is missing from the Support Collection Unit? Who took it and how? How many children were left without support and for how long? Were any warrants issued for innocent deadbeat parents?
Where is our "open government"? Who has the courage to speak for the victims of this crime?
Barbara Elmore
Davenport Center
{"headlinelight18"/}Business must fight gas price
Why are we not hearing from American industry and the retail business world regarding gas prices? Why are they just standing by while the oil industry is destroying our economy and making our country vulnerable? Further and more incredible, why is the American business community allowing these thugs to destroy their businesses? Has America gone mad?
Yes, a gas-tax moratorium is nice, but temporary and certainly not enough. Alternative fuels may be a good idea, but that takes time.
American businesses, what do you say? We are your customers. We need your help so we can keep you in business! Get your act together and organize to stop the insanity. You all can be a powerful force. Fight this threat to our economy and our republic.
Arnold R. Weiss
Delhi
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