Clergy /Nazism photos provided by WTB&TS

by smiddy 10 Replies latest watchtower bible

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  smiddy

  I was looking through some old photographs the other day,my wife and I are not that organised with photo`s,we have boxes of them that we never put in albums,and we have been married nearing 50 years ,so you can imagine we have a few.In the early 60`s when I was converted their was an article in a watchtower dealing with the clergys involvement with nazi germany during world war 2 .Being newly converted I had some long discussions with my brother inlaw,who was a catholic, about religion.So when this magazine came out I wrote to the branch office in strathfield enquiring whether I could obtain the photos proving this.Not long after I received 4 photo`s from the branch office in strathfield providing this evidence.At the time I didn`t think to much about it.But now 50 years later I think why would they give a newly baptised person this? (I know they would look for any opportunity to bag catholics then and now ) I have the original envelope from strathfield to me but the postage stamp is missing however the return adress is clearly identifiable.On the back of the photo`s is some information presumably in german and english translation.1.New years reception by Hitler 2.Hitler greets Lutheran reichs Bishop Muller,3.Papstliche Gcandte nuutius vasallo di fowegrossa( Papal representative)4.On return of saar to germany R.C.Bishops von trier and speyer giving nazi salute.Has anybody else ever had a similar experience,being given documents from the society,that years down the track ,think,why would they?

  smiddy
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  Leolaia

  Never heard of this, sounds quite interesting.
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  OUTLAW

  The WBT$ has a History of Hating the Catholics..

  Point out a WBT$ Problem to a Jehovah`s Witness and they will start talking about Catholic Problems..

  It happens right here on this Forum..

  "Yes"..

  "The WBT$ has Problems..But"..

  "We`re not as Bad as the Catholics!"..

  

  ........................... ...OUTLAW
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  PSacramento

  The WT has a serious case of envy when it comes to the RCC.

  The even imitate the "inner circle of cardinals" with their GB.

  Makes sense since they came from the Adventist movement and the "great disappointment" of the 19th century ( with all those RCC telling them I told you so).
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  Palimpsest

  Thank you for making that point, Outlaw. While I have no love for religion, I'm always amazed by how many ex-JWs, especially ones who convert to other forms of fundamentalist Christianity, continue to loathe Catholics or believe in Catholic conspiracy theories. It's one thing to be critical of the Church's organization and its various problems, but some people definitely seem to take it a bit too far.

  smiddy, I would definitely hang on to those materials. Sounds museum-worthy (really). You have to be one of very few people in possession of personal correspondence from a branch office, especially from that time period.
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  smiddy

  Leolaia...It probably occured in the early to mid 1960`s judging by the adress it was sent to.

  outlaw...I totally agree

  Ps...It always puzzled me why the WT publications singled out the Roman Catholics for special attention,you hardly heard a peep out of them against other major christian religions eg Greek Orthodox,Russian Orthodox,or even the Mormons,or Adventists.It`s true they have commented on these religions,but nothing like the barrage against catholics they have produced.

  Palimpsest...The trouble is I don`t have an accompaning letter with these photo`s. I`m sure their would have one, but alas it`s not with the photo`s ,only the envelope identifying the sender.

  smiddy
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  Scott77

  This offends me very much. All my family and grand parents are catholic. I was a catholic when I joined the JW religion but decided to return back to make a statement to WTS that Iam nolonger one of them. Thank you outlaw for pointing out this. I recall attending RCC mass wearing jean and sneakers. I felt so free during summer. I hate the ties, the suits of JWs KH. It was so great. Sometimes, people wears shorts as well. I like that atmosphere.

  Scott77
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  smiddy

  Take heart Scott77 I beleive quite a few returned to the fold (RCC ) some who post here

  smiddy
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  PSacramento

  Fact of the matter is that the only church that can directly traces its lineage to the apostles is the RCC, every other denominaton of christianity has to go through the RCC, although it can be debated that the "old catholics" were before the RCC.

  I think that envy is what drives the WT to critique it so much, the Wt really has no claim on legitimacy, it was made up by Russell and since they decided to try to legitimize themsevles with that whole F&D slave crap, the issue of the RCC keeps getting rubbed in their faces.
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  slimboyfat

  I think Watchtower branches were certainly much more open in responding to correspondence and enquiries in the past than they are today. In the early postwar period, around the time that the NWT was produced, and when Fred Franz was in full flight, I think Jehovah's Witnesses had a perception of themselves as being honest researchers, discovering truths, and sharing their findings. This also involved a certain self-confidence in offering genuine responses to questions put to them that is no longer in evidence. You can see this in some of the very specific Questions from Readers articles in 50s and 60s including detailed responses. Most of the "Questions from Readers" that get published these days are terribly vague and sound like the questions have been made up by people in the writing department. The increased volume and vehemence of criticism of the organization in recent decades has also perhaps caused them to withdraw into their shell when it comes to responding to enquiries.