Susan Sarandon Called a 'Despicable Person' for Pope 'Nazi' Comments

Catholic groups are castigating actress Susan Sarandon over her controversial comments about the pope.

Sarandon made the comments in an interview at the Hamptons Film Festival while recounting a story in which she sent one of her movies to Benedict's predecessor, Pope John Paul.

"The last one," she said, indicating Pope John Paul, "not this Nazi one we have now."

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Her interviewer, actor Bob Batalan, tried to move past the comment but Sarandon repeated it, drawing a quiet laughter from the crowd.

Catholic groups have responded to the actress's comments, saying her remark "bespeaks unparalleled ignorance."

President of the Catholic League Bill Donohue said "She's a despicable person to make these kinds of despicable remarks."

Donohue also set the record straight on the pope's involvement with Hitler Youth.

"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," Donohue said.

Sarandon was raised Roman Catholic and is known for her work fighting hunger and Aids. She was also a vocal opponent of the war in Iraq.

Joseph Ratzinger (Pope Benedict) spent a short time in Hitler Youth in the 1940s when membership was required, the Vatican said.

He left the military during World War II and has said that as devout Catholics his parents opposed the Nazi regime.

The Anti-Defamation League has urged Sarandon to apologize to the Catholic community.

Abraham Foxman, the ADL's National Director said in the posted statement, "We hope that Susan Sarandon will have the good sense to apologize to the Catholic community and all those she may have offended...Ms. Sarandon may have her differences with the Catholic Church, but that is no excuse for throwing around Nazi analogies. Such words are hateful, vindictive and only serve to diminish the true history and meaning of the Holocaust."