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| PERPETRATOR or RESCUER? The Christian Churches |
| The Christian Churches had a very mixed record during the Holocaust. The majority of Church leaders did not speak out against the murder of the Jews, and a few actively supported it. Centuries of Christian hostility to the Jews had created a climate of antisemitism throughout Europe that the Nazis exploited. Instead of publicly condemning the Nazi crimes the leader of the Roman Catholic Church, Pope Pius XII, remained silent despite having detailed knowledge of the murder of millions of Jews. However, while most remained silent, a number of individual churchmen did risk their lives to speak out against the Nazis and to urge their parishioners to help the Jews. Many Christian orphanages, monasteries and convents gave shelter to Jews. Churchmen supplied Jews with false documents so that they could pretend to be Christians. And individuals, motivated by their Christian faith, risked their lives to rescue and hide Jews. |
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