How to counter the "Hitler was a Christian" argument

[WildCatholic]

I think its fair to say Hitler was at one point a Christian, but he obviously didn’t practice. To be honest I think he was just an opportunist. He used Christians for evil means (I know there was a German Bishop who was very supportive of Naziism, though I’m sure most were not, at least in private) and used other groups to achieve his evil. So in a sense he was, but he was not a practicing christian.

 

[Gorgias]

From all the historical evidence, it would appear Hitler did not consider himself a Catholic. Therefore, he was not a Catholic.

If I should decide that I’m not a man – that is, if I no longer consider myself a man – does that mean that I cease being a man? Of course not.

it is not impossible [Von Schonerer] led Hitler to abandon Catholicism as well.

Whether Hitler abandoned (the practice of) Catholicism is immaterial; his abandonment doesn’t imply that Catholicism abandoned him.

 

[CompSciGuy]

Hitler did some things that were contrary to Catholic teaching, for example genocide… so to equate Hitler’s Catholicism to his deeds is pretty absurd especially considering that he acted directly against Church teaching. Stalin was an atheist… maybe we should say that all atheists are murderous megalomaniacs who want to send half their country’s population to gulags.

 

[Gorgias]

(BUT! Your post does bring up a question for an entirely different thread. I constantly read here and hear Catholics say that the law of the Church never, ever, ever changes. And yet, you say “that the law of the Church validly can and does change over time” ? I will ask this in another thread so as not to derail this one!)

Law can change – doctrine can’t. That’s the distinction.

p.s., you’re welcome!

 

[CaptBell800]

Apostasy–as it’s defined in the MW-dictionary, below, doesn’t look so rare. There are a lot of fallen-away Catholics, for example, who turn away from their faith–“reunciate” it, and tell their family, “I don’t believe in God anymore, I don’t believe in Catholicism”…we’ve heard from anguished family members on this forum about it.

But I if each person who did this (think of all the teenagers who do it!!) were then not considered Catholic anymore…well…the number of Catholics would plummet, methinks?
Apostasy
1: renunciation of a religious faith
2: abandonment of a previous loyalty : defection *

Or is “apostasy” defined in another way by the Catholic church?

.

It wouldn’t matter about the numbers. That is part of religious faith. You either believe it or you don’t. You can’t have it both ways.