The authors wrote of 7 women, out of many they could have chosen. An astonishing chronicle of courage in the face of Nazi terror. While many of the powerful and famous failed to help, these humble women - some vowed religious, some lay - faced death and torture and fearlessly rescued some hundreds of innocent people, including many children. A moving, wonderful book.

Like so many hatchet jobs on poor Pius XII, the author systematically ignores the evidence of the pope's longstanding opposition to Nazism and anti-Semitism (no citations of his famous condemnation of anti-Semitism at Lourdes) and exaggerates the alleged anti-Semitism of obscure Catholic officials and publications. It is striking how little attention is paid to the Vatican newspaper and radio, which repeatedly detailed and denounced Nazi atrocities.

This book removed itself from all of the hype, defensiveness and trash talking that seems to surround this topic. Michael Phayer approached the topic systematically and objectively and in so doing has produced a book that for me seems to be the definitive work on this subject. A must read for anyone interested in the history of Pius XII and the Holocaust.

This book explains the response of the Catholic Church to the Nazi Government and the Holocaust. Coverage is given to time periods before, during, and after the Holocaust. Ample coverage is given to actions of the Church and individual Catholics that were praiseworthy and to actions or nonactions that were shameful. There was much of both.

Unlike many other books and customer reviewers on this subject, the author appears not to have a particular bias that colors his analysis and assessment of every topic covered. The book is neither a blanket condemnation nor a blind hagiography. As such,
I recommend it highly.