Thank you for reviewing Pius XII and the Holocaust

  Well Done Work, August 22, 2015

The book is a well written and well researched look at the so-called controversy on Pope Pius' alleged silence during World War II in relation to the Nazi's systematic imprisoning and killing of Jews. Snachez makes a reasoned analysis of the available facts and paints a realistic picture of Pius.

In some ways the author gives too much weight to some of the critics of the pope since some were obviously contrived and used false and manipulated evidence to prove their thesis (Hitler's Pope). He also doesn't seem to give too much weight to the many priests and religious who helped the Jews and later said that Pope Pius had instructed them to do so.

Apart from these gripes, I think the book is a good starting place for people who think they know what Pope Pius XII actually did or didn't do in relation to the Jewish Holocaust.

Discipleship: Living for Christ in the Daily Grind (New Expanded Edition) by J. Heinrich Arnold

Discipleship: Living for Christ in the Daily Grind (New Expanded Edition) by J. Heinrich Arnold is a book that every Christian can use on a daily basis. The book is totally grounded in the Bible and New Testament.

Arnold writes about various issues that people face in the world today and examines how one might respond to these issues using the word of Christ and the Bible.

I found it to be a very interesting and informative read. It might be best to read it slowly so as to absorb the writings and the wisdom of each entry and think about them. This expanded edition contains even more insight and writings by Arnold using letters and other source materials.

The back of the book contains a good "Index of Bible References." Anyone who wants to follow Christ and live closer to his teachings and the Bible should spend the time and read Discipleship published by Plough Publishing House.

(I received a copy of this book for review from Handlebar.)

Humility: An Unlikely Biography of America’s Greatest Virtue by David J. Bobb

There is one thing for certain humility is lacking today. Whether it is in regards to politics, entertainment or family and friends, humility is a rare commodity. David J. Bobb,  the executive director of citizen education for Hillsdale College, does a service to this age with his book Humility: An Unlikely Biography of America’s Greatest Virtue.

Bobb treats his subject skillfully and chose his autobiographical portraits well. Some of the people used as examples I was quite familiar with George Washington, and Abraham Lincoln are two of them, but I learned about a different aspect of their personality when seeing them through the focus of their humility. The thesis of Bobb's book is that these figures weren't great people despite their ability at being humble, but because of it.

Most people aren't naturally humble and when you factor in people who are spirited or powerful or who are driven, humility could look to be a failing, but like Jesus who chose to be humble unto death, these famous figures of history all strove to be humble along with their other strengths and features.

Also covered in the book are James Madison, Abagail Adams, and Frederick Douglass as well as others. I highly recommend this book Humility. It encouraged me to strive to be more humble in my own life. And it comes at the right time in our society and hope that Bobb might consider writing a second book examining other leaders in history who have have displayed the, oh so rare trait, of humility.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze.com® book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255 : "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

American Saint: The Life of Elizabeth Seton by Joan Barthel is NOT for Faithful Catholics!

I was prepared to read a biography of the Roman Catholic saint Elizabeth Seton but was extremely disappointed right from the beginning of the book. Starting with the Forward I realized that this was just a book about the life of a Catholic saint. No, the Forward to this book was written by a noted Leftist and homosexual marriage advocate Maya Angelou, which for me is inappropriate for a book on someone who is revered for her Catholic faith and holiness.

If this wasn't bad enough the author Joan Barthel started off trashing Pope Benedict and the Catholic Church. The prepublication materials include this line, "Elizabeth began the fight for woman's rights in the church that is still being fought today, and the publication of her story could not be more timely." This says it all. The audience for this book are the Catholic heretics, anti-Catholics, and liberals. The same people who call the Catholic Church "misogynistic" (despite the fact that the Church reveres Mary and hundreds of women saints for their holiness in the Faith) will cheer at the misguided and idiotic nonsense that one can get from this useless pseudo biography.

So, the bottom line is this is NOT a biography on a Catholic saint, it is instead a Left-wing propaganda piece in the guise of a biography.

The Pope and Mussolini by David I. Kertzer Review

Unfortunately, The Pope and Mussolini is just another Vatican hit piece. The propagandist in this case, David I. Kertzer, cherry picking bits and pieces of information to shape his thesis of the wicked Catholic Church supporting, backing and actually creating dictators like Mussolini and Hitler. As Jack Taylor would say, "Gob-shite!"

The book is a bit like a partisan Democrat writing the history of the Republican Party. "Lincoln was a RACIST! He said it would be better for the blacks to move back to Africa!" Of course, this imagined Leftist author would forget to mention the 100 years of murder, torture and subjugation of the blacks in the Democrat controlled South of the United States.

Random House is publicizing this book by saying such things as this, "Shows how Pius XI's Secretary of State betrayed the pope to become his successor, Pius XII, also known as Hitler's Pope." Referencing John Cornwell's well refuted book Hitler's Pope: The Secret History of Pius XII. The Myth of Hitler's Pope: Pope Pius XII And His Secret War Against Nazi Germany by Rabi David G. Dalin totally destroys the whole Soviet inspired thesis of Pius XII being buds with Hitler. Doesn't matter to Random House, though, or this "author" Kertzer.

Some of Kertzer's other books include, The Unholy War: The Vatican's Role in the Rise of Modern Anti-Semitism, Prisoner of the Vatican: The Popes, the Kings, and Garibaldi's Rebels in the Struggle to Rule Modern Italy, and The Pope's Against the Jews. I'm glad to see that he doesn't have an axe to grind or anything.

Since religion and anti-Semitism seems to be so close to Kertzer's heart I looked real hard for a book on Hitler's Mufti, Haj Amin al-Husseini or Communism & anti-Semitism. I shouldn't have wasted my time, his anti-Semitism books are ALL only aimed at the Catholic Church!

He does seem to like to write about labor and Communism seeing that he's written, Family Life in Central Italy, 1880-1910: Sharecropping, Wage Labor, and Coresidence, Comrades and Christians: Religion and Political Struggle in Communist Italy, and Politics and Symbols: The Italian Communist Party and the Fall of Communism. My conclusion: Just another Leftist trashing Catholicism for the Cause. Enough said.

Doctor Who: Spearhead from Space - The Blu-ray Edition

How much, I wish, that they filmed all of the original Doctor Who in film so that they could all be put on Blu-ray.

This high definition release of Spearhead from Space, is just plain awesome. I've always liked this show anyway. Robert Holmes is the best writer the series ever had. So many of his stories are classics today.

Most of the Jon Pertwee elements of his era are there already in his first program! This openning show is, in my opinion, the strongest beginning show of any of the Doctors. Baker's The Robot was only a so-so affair, Davison's Castrolvala, was downright boring at times. And Colin Baker's Twin Dilema, I haven't bothered watching again since the first time I laid eyes on it.

But, "what is so great about this release?" you may ask. Well, where to begin. The show has literally never looked better. The picture is more than pristine! Every color is gorgeous. It looks like it was just shot today. The computer picture restoration has removed most of the flaws, as well as lowering the graininess of the original 16mm film. Unfortunately, the few shots that have dust particles in the frame were not altered, so the hairs are even more noticeable!

If you've always liked this story, it is totally enhanced by the fantastic image quality, and is worth purchasing just for that.

The Extras have a few goodies as well. I personally love the ones on the restoration processes. This one was a bit short however. I wish they had invested in making a more in-depth study in the restoration process. The real gem is the documentary on the life of Jon Pertwee. It is rather well done and is also in high definition. Using interviews with Pertwee himself, people who knew him and worked with him, and lots of photographs and video clips the film covers his life. It is a well researched affair and should be exceedingly interesting to anyone who is a Pertwee fan.

I already had the DVD version of Spearhead, but this one is SO much better that everyone should get a copy! People update to a high definition system, if you don't have one, just to watch this show.

Francis: Man of Prayer by Mario Escobar

As a practicing Catholic, I really wanted to learn more about Pope Francis than the mixed messages that were being distributed about him and his views in the press. Although author Mario Escobar’s biography does supply some background on the pope and fills in some of his beliefs, I came away not knowing him really, anymore than I did before reading this book.

I found the writing style rather boring and uninteresting and Escobar’s grasp on Catholicism rather lacking. I especially became annoyed when I read this passage which is the most idiotic suggestion I’ve ever read in a supposed serious biography of a pope: “(T)he Dominican Basilica Santa Maria sopra Minerva was built over the ruins of an ancient Roman temple of Minerva, goddess of wisdom, as if the cardinals were seeking the wisdom of a pagan goddess in electing their pope.” This is the height of idiocy and a great attack upon the Church. I find it unbelievable that a fine publisher such as Thomas Nelson would even have printed such rubbish! Frankly, as a Catholic I am offended at such an ignorant musing being put into print in a so-called biography of a pope.

This comment took place on page 71 which wasn’t even yet the half-way mark. I found the rest of the work quite tedious and it took me a very long time to finish reading it.

 

For anyone wanting to read an intelligent, serious and in-depth biography on the current pope, I suggest waiting a little longer until a much better researched project is published.

 

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze.com® book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”