Church spokesman says cardinal's posthumous award honors all Germans

Published: 2003-11-18

WARSAW, Poland (CNS) -- A Cologne archdiocesan spokesman said the posthumous award given to a German cardinal who protected Jews during World War II is significant for all Germans. Yad Vashem, the Holocaust Martyrs' and Heroes' Remembrance Authority in Israel, gave its "Righteous Among the Nations" award to Cologne Cardinal Joseph Hoffner, president of the German bishops' conference from 1976 until his 1987 death. "This (award) is a cause of great pride for the local church here," said archdiocesan spokesman Carsten Horn. "But the fact that he acted this way before assuming highest responsibility for the Catholic Church in this country has significance for the whole of Germany." Little had been known about Cardinal Hoffner's work on behalf of Jews, said Horn. "Cardinal Hoffner never claimed credit for helping Jews and never talked publicly about it," Horn said.

Copyright (c) 2003 Catholic News Service /U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. The CNS news report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed, including but not limited to such means as framing or any other digital copying or distribution method, in whole or in part without the prior written authority of Catholic News Service .