Well the Catholic Church has a new leader. Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger is now Pope Benedict XVI. What does this mean?
"One of his first campaigns was against liberation theology, which had gained ground among priests in Latin America and elsewhere as a means of involving the Church in social activism and human rights issues.
He has described homosexuality as a 'tendency' towards an 'intrinsic moral evil'. During the US election campaign, he called for pro-choice politicians to be denied Communion. [But not those who went against church teachings against the Iraq war]
He has also argued that Turkey should not be admitted into the European Union." (BBC)
He will most likely continue to carry the water for the right-wing.
"Ratzinger, a staunch conservative dubbed 'God's Rottweiler,' has said he joined the Hitler Youth when membership became compulsory. He and his brother were later drafted but deserted. The cardinal claims he never fired a shot and that resistance would have meant death.
"Not so, Germans from his hometown of Traunstein told The Times of London.
"'It was possible to resist, and those people set an example for others,' recalled Elizabeth Lohner, 84. 'The Ratzingers were young — and they had made a different choice.'" (NYP)
Again not exactly the most principled choice.
Certainly Kos is right that calling him a Nazi today is counter-productive. But to ignore his history is also foolish. It doesn't bode well for the role of the Catholic Church in today's world.
Perhaps he can grow into the "shoes of the fisherman," but the past doesn't portend greatness.
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