What Auschwitz Nuns and WTC mosque Have In Common

William McGurn in the WSJ reminds of a similarly contentious situation around another area of hallowed ground –  Auschwitz, Poland.

In 1980, Carmelite nuns built a chapel at the edge of Auschwitz in order to dedicate prayers to the souls who perished in her ovens.  This simple act of praying ignited a firestorm of controversy between Jews and Catholics living in Poland and abroad. 

Many Catholics, not just in Poland, could not understand how nuns begging God’s forgiveness and praying for the souls of the departed could possibly offend anyone. There was also a nationalist element. Many members of the Polish resistance had also been murdered at Auschwitz. And again like our present controversy at Ground Zero, intemperate reactions and statements from both sides only inflamed passions.

Eventually, Pope John Paul stepped in and after careful consideration asked the Nuns to remove themselves to local chapel not far from Auschwitz.

Without doubt Pope John Paul II did not share the more malevolent interpretations attached to the presence of the Carmelites at Auschwitz. By asking the nuns to withdraw, he didn’t concede them either. What he did was recognize that having the right to do something doesn’t mean it’s the right thing to do.

Perhaps Imam Feisal Abdul Rauf and his wife, Daisy Khan will consider the actions of this great man and do the right thing, move the mosque.

Posted on August 01, 2010  ::  Categories: National
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