What IS good, and how do we determine it?

[Randy Carson]

Some years ago, I can't say I even remember it that well. I recall Dalin expounds upon some of the rescue plans of Mother Pascalina and a few clergymen but he does tend to skirt around a few more awkward facts such as when Pius XII was Papal Nuncio in Berlin he was observed by no other than Pascalina herself giving funds to an anti-communist/anti-semitic group ran by no other than...*drumroll* Adolf Hitler. It also ignores the total inaction by the European Catholic church on an official level, when Jews were being forced to wear the yellow star the church did speak out, but only for Catholic Jews who were being made to wear it too, the rest could all go to hell quite literally.

You may recall that when the bishops did speak out against Nazism in the earliest days of the war, Hitler ordered massive bombing in retaliation, and many innocent civilians died. Consequently, the Church hierarchy realized that its opposition to the Germans would have to be conducted underground. Catholic monasteries and churches all over Europe were used for hiding the Jews and as part of an underground railroad that moved people out of harm's way. If the Pope and the Bishops had confronted Hitler from their pulpits, these havens would have been destroyed.

As for my theology why do I have to be a Catholic to be able to understand the Catholic Church? Have I made any mistakes in recounting it's history or doctrine?

That's not what I asked. You have seen Catholicism from the three vantage points of atheism, Protestantism (you are not Protestant) and Orthodoxy (you are not Orthodox). Consequently, you have not studied Catholicism from the Catholic point of view...with an appreciation of Catholic sprituality, etc.

Only as an outsider in three admittedly hostile environments.

I can't help but wonder what your impression of Catholicism might be if you earned a degree from a solid Catholic university. Just sayin'.

As for what Catholicism has gotten right? You may need to be more specific. Are we talking about doctrine? It's impact upon the world? On a doctrinal level I obviously think it's all based upon a false premise. That doesn't mean from time to time it doesn't produce desirable effects like social order or encourage support of other human beings. It also gives a great deal of comfort to some of the most poor and destitute individuals in the world.

If you tell me which area I can be more specific, I'm afraid I don't quite know what you mean for your last point

Here I was thinking of Catholic theology. Perhaps as an atheist, you haven't actually paid much attention to that. You seem more focused on the history and sociological aspects of the Church...