Susan Sarandon is not a fan of the pope. (Photo by David Shankbone)
Over the weekend, Susan Sarandon called Pope Benedict XVI a Nazi during an interview at The Hamptons Film Festival.
She mentioned that she had sent the Pope a copy of the anti-death penalty book, Dead Man Walking, which was written by Sister Helen Prejean. Sarandon won an Oscar for Best Actress for playing Prejean in the 1995 movie adaptation of the book.
“The last one,” she said, referring to John Paul II, “not this Nazi one we have now.” [THR]
The Catholic League is not taking her remarks sitting down. Through their president, Bill Donohue, they’ve issued a statement, calling Sarandon comments “ignorant.”
“Joseph Ratzinger (the pope) was conscripted into the Nazi Youth the way every other 14-year-old German boy was at the time. Unlike most others, he not only refused to go to the compulsory meetings — he actually deserted the Hitler Youth! Which is precisely why Jews today regard him as a friend, not as an enemy,” he said.
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