Publisher's Synopsis
Mark Edward Ruff explores the bitter controversies that broke out in the Federal Republic of Germany from 1945 to 1980 over the Catholic Church's relationship to the Nazis. He explores why these culture wars consumed such energy, dominated headlines, triggered lawsuits and required the intervention of Foreign Ministries. He argues that these controversies were surrogates for conflicts over how the church was to position itself in modern society - in politics, international relations and the media. More often than not, these exchanges centered on problems perceived as arising from the postwar ascendancy of Roman Catholics and the integration of catholic citizens into societal mainstream.
