Catholic Church
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How do you cope when you find out that your father was one of the most evil men in history, and worse, your Godfather was the most evil man known to humanity? Martin Adolf Bormann (14 April 1930 in Grünwald—11 March 2013 (aged 82) in Herdecke) was a German theologian and laicized Roman Catholic priest. He
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On July 26, 1897, in the Austrian village of Wattens, Jakob Gapp was born into a modest working-class family. He grew up like many boys in Tyrol: ordinary, hardworking, with no hint of the extraordinary courage that would one day define him. Yet his life would unfold in ways that would test the limits of
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Luise Löwenfels (was a German nun of Jewish descent who is remembered for her courage and faith during the Nazi era. Her story is one of personal sacrifice, spiritual conviction, and tragic martyrdom. She was born on July 5, 1915, in Eschweiler, Germany, into a Jewish family. Her parents, both of Jewish heritage, raised her
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When you think of popes, you wouldn’t believe that a small country like the Netherlands would ever produce a pope, but it did. Pope Adrian VI: The Dutch Reformer of the Papacy Pope Adrian VI, born Adriaan Florensz Boeyens, holds the unique distinction of being the only Dutchman to ascend to the papacy. His brief
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Pope Pius XII is often referred to as “Hitler’s Pope,” but the Catholic Church’s connections with fascist regimes began before his papacy. It was his predecessor, Pope Pius XI, who actively sought ties with fascist leaders. On June 16, 1936, he met with Anton Mussert, the leader of the Dutch Nazi party. The 20th century
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The Ustaše (also spelled Ustashas or Ustashi) was a Croatian fascist, ultranationalist, and terrorist organization that engaged in violent activity before and during World War II. Under the protection of Fascist Italy and Nazi Germany, the Ustaše established a puppet state, the Independent State of Croatia (NDH), during the Axis occupation of Yugoslavia. At World
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Anne Boleyn, the second of Henry VIII’s six wives, is arguably the most famous. In 1523, she was betrothed to Henry Percy, the son of the Earl of Northumberland, but the engagement was abruptly called off. At the time, Anne was serving as a maid of honor to Catherine of Aragon, Henry VIII’s first wife.
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Robert Francis Prevost Elected Pope Leo XIV, Succeeding Pope Francis. Robert Francis Prevost, a Chicago native, was elected pope by the College of Cardinals on May 8, following a two-day papal conclave. He succeeds Pope Francis, who passed away on April 21 at the age of 88. At 69 years old, Prevost has chosen the
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I’m not Catholic, but that doesn’t mean I can’t respect the Pope—after all, he was the spiritual leader of 1.41 billion Catholics worldwide Since his election in March 2013, Pope Francis has reshaped the papacy in ways that have resonated far beyond the walls of the Vatican. Born Jorge Mario Bergoglio in Buenos Aires, Argentina,
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While Jewish identity was traditionally defined by religious beliefs and cultural heritage, the Nazi regime considered Jewishness a racial characteristic, making conversion to Christianity irrelevant in terms of escaping persecution. Many Jews sought refuge in Catholicism, hoping that baptism would provide protection from Nazi oppression. However, in most cases, conversion did not shield them from