Image: Dinoscopus
The AP report below offers an update on the story of the pope's lifting the excommunciation of 4 bishops and in particular Bishop Richard Williamson, the Holocaust denier. OHCARCC
Believe it or not, Williamson has a blog and the illustration above is his logo. The blog's name? Dinoscopus.
Vatican Says Comments by Holocaust Denier Unacceptable
Monday , January 26, 2009
Associated Press
VATICAN CITY — The Vatican said Monday that comments by a recently rehabilitated bishop that no Jews were gassed during the Holocaust were "unacceptable" and violate Church teaching.
In a front-page article, the Vatican newspaper L'Osservatore Romano reaffirmed that Pope Benedict XVI deplored all forms of anti-Semitism and that all Roman Catholics must do the same.
The article was issued amid an outcry from Jewish groups that Benedict last week lifted the excommunication of a traditionalist bishop, Richard Williamson, who has denied that 6 million Jews were murdered during World War II.
The Vatican has stressed that that removing the excommunication by no means implied the Vatican shared Williamson's views.
...
One of the key documents issued by Vatican II was "Nostra Aetate," which said the church deplored all forms of anti-Semitism. The document revolutionized the church's relations with Jews.
In the article, L'Osservatore said Benedict and his predecessors had all made clear the church's teaching on "Nostra Aetate" in documents, actions and speeches and that its contents "are not debatable for Catholics."
Williamson's statements, broadcast last week in a Swedish state TV interview, "contradict this teaching and are thus very serious and regrettable," L'Osservatore said. While broadcast before the Jan. 21 document lifting the excommunication, they remain "unacceptable," it said.
Williamson's statements, broadcast last week in a Swedish state TV interview, "contradict this teaching and are thus very serious and regrettable," L'Osservatore said. While broadcast before the Jan. 21 document lifting the excommunication, they remain "unacceptable," it said.
In the interview, Williamson said historical evidence "is hugely against 6 million Jews having been deliberately gassed in gas chambers as a deliberate policy of Adolf Hitler." He cited what he called the "most serious" revisionists who he said had concluded that "between 200,000-300,000 perished in Nazi concentration camps, but not one of them by gassing in a gas chamber."
Jewish groups, including the American Jewish Committee, the Simon Wiesenthal Center and Israel's quasi-governmental Jewish Agency, denounced the Vatican for having embraced a Holocaust denier.
On Monday, the head of the Italian bishops' conference, Cardinal Angelo Bagnasco, defended Benedict's decision to rehabilitate Williamson. But he decried Williamson's views as "unfounded and unjustified."
The German Bishops' Conference also denounced Williamson's views.
...
State prosecutors in Regensburg, Germany, have opened a preliminary investigation into whether Williamson broke German laws against Holocaust denial as he spoke to Swedish state TV while in Germany.
(read the complete report)
One thing I have to say for the Vatican, they are consistent. They do a great job speaking in the passive voice and taking NO ACTION, whatsoever. See the parallels in the Bishop Williamson situation and the sexual abuse crisis.
ReplyDeleteThe Vatican’s statements say Bishop Williamson’s comments are:
"unacceptable" and violate Church teaching.
"contradict this teaching and are thus very serious and regrettable,"
“On Monday, the head of the Italian bishops' conference, Cardinal Angelo Bagnasco, defended Benedict's decision to rehabilitate Williamson. But he decried Williamson's views as "unfounded and unjustified."
That’s a lot of Passive talk. What ACTION did they take against the bishop? NONE
On the subject of the sexual abuse crisis:
“We will do everything possible to ensure that this does not happen in the future. I think we have to act on three levels: the first is the level of justice and the political level. …then there is the pastoral level.” Benedict XVI, 15 April 2008, Press Conference
How many bishops have been punished or removed from their positions? NONE
“It is your God given responsibility as pastors to bind up the wounds caused by every breach of trust, to foster healing, to promote reconciliation and to reach out with loving concern to those so seriously wronged.” Benedict XVI, 16 April 2008, To American Bishops
In November of 2007, the USCCB elected Cardinal Francis George as their president with 85% of the vote in the first round. Cardinal George violated the bishops’ own charter to protect children by not taking action against a priest who had been credibly accused of sexual abuse of a child. After the pope’s statement, did he resign his position? NO
Did his fellow bishops ask him to step down? NO
“….This scourge is found not only within your dioceses but in every sector of society. It calls for a determined, collective response.” Benedict XVI, 16 April 2008, To American Bishops
What actions has Pope Benedict XVI taken against his bishops since this statement, to show leadership and a determination to root out this cancer? NONE
“People need to know that there is no place in the priesthood and religious life for those who would harm the young.” John Paul II, 23 April 2002, To the American Cardinals
What actions did Pope John Paul II take against his bishops who enabled these crimes? NONE
Same old, same old.
Hello. And Bye.
ReplyDelete