Holocaust Bishop told to 'Recant'

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IrnBru

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Hi all

I came across this today on BBC website and thought people here would like to discuss the whole issue - i think its also related to the SSPX - but i could be wrong.

news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/7869995.stm

IMO opinion - anyone who denies the holocaust ever tool place should be shown first hand what happened at those camps - meet the victims of the attrocities and be publically shamed.
 
From the New York Times Link]:

ROME — Responding to global outrage, especially in Pope Benedict XVI’s native Germany, the Vatican for the first time on Wednesday called on a recently rehabilitated bishop to take back his statements denying the Holocaust.

[snip]

A statement issued on Wednesday by the Vatican Secretariat of State said that Bishop Williamson “must absolutely, unequivocally and publicly distance himself from his positions on the Shoah,” or Holocaust, which it said were “unknown to the Holy Father at the time he revoked the excommunication.”

[snip]

The statement from the Vatican on Wednesday also sought to address significant lingering questions about what conditions the society would have to meet before being fully welcomed back into the fold. It stated that the society would have to offer its “full recognition of the Second Vatican Council” in order to receive “recognition” by the church.

Does anyone know where to find the full statement?
 
First let start by saying that Bishop Williamson has, in my humble opinion, some very odd beliefs regarding history and current events.

However, let’s be clear here. Bishop Williamson did not deny the Holocaust. He questioned the number of Jews that were slaughtered by the Nazis. The normal number that is presented is 6 million. I have no reason to disbelieve that number. Bishop Williamson chooses to accept the number as closer to 300,000. Personally, I think his numbers are a bit off the mark. Still, news stories and posts that present Bishop Williamson as a Holocaust denier are in error as well.

I think it is wrong to misrepresent the Bishop’s views when we are claiming he is misrepresenting history.
 
This has been done to death, flogged like a dead horse, on loads of other threads.

:yawn:
 
I dont think it is a sin to question the numbers. it is a historical matter not a Religious matter. I dont see how the Vatican can tell him to recant on that matter. He isnt speaking about faith or morals or denying a rule of the Church.
 
Oh well - apologies for just posting a new comment regarding catholicism on the site!

Free speech and all -just an honest opinion and post regarding a topic which should affect anyone within the RCC - also i couldnt find a post with this topic in it so hence the new post.

No wonder people are leaving here in droves - unless your in the club your opinions aren’t welcome or wanted!
 
IrnBru said:
Oh well - apologies for just posting a new comment regarding catholicism on the site!

Free speech and all -just an honest opinion and post regarding a topic which should affect anyone within the RCC - also i couldnt find a post with this topic in it so hence the new post.

No wonder people are leaving here in droves - unless your in the club your opinions aren’t welcome or wanted!
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Of course you are welcome. If you’re referring to my comment, I was just wondering why you’d start a new thread (especially if you are “new to the club”) when there are 9 other threads open on this whole SSPX/+Williamson/“the Pope hasn’t a clue what he’s doing” topic…
 
Yahoo!!! Yes! That’s the Church that I love! We need to learn to be better human beings, and if that needs that The Holy See forces us to correct ourselves, I’m all for it. This bishop has caused so much harm already. Hope this is true.
 
Pope Benedict XVl is brilliant. He has now set a precedent, so he can go after the bishops all over the world who have lost there way. I hope he starts in the U.S.
 
The fact that his comments are causing harm and are untrue means that he should recant his statements. Anyone else who takes umbrage with the particular number or details doesn’t need special treatment, they shouldn’t be taken to Auschwitz or anywhere else. I don’t believe a great many things I read in contemporary history textbooks and don’t think we should start down the road of forcing people to believe whatever the politbureau decides we should believe.
 
It would be wonderful if Williamson recanted, repented and returned Home to the Catholic Church. That would be glorious as it would be for any soul. To be consecrated a bishop though? Absolutely no way. There’s something wrong with that man and he could do a lot more further damage as an actual bishop in the Church.
 
I think he is doing the right thing about starting with this holocaust denier- what a weirdo. . .
 
Rogerteder said:
I dont think it is a sin to question the numbers. it is a historical matter not a Religious matter. I dont see how the Vatican can tell him to recant on that matter. He isnt speaking about faith or morals or denying a rule of the Church.
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The Vatican can make him recant anything that they want. That’s part of being reconciled to the Church. Its actually a perfect opportunity for Bishop Williamson to display his obedience, if he wants to make use of it.
 
If Williamson actually returns to the Catholic Church one day that would be great. As a bishop though? No way!
 
This proves how brilliant the Pope is.

A. This affects only the one bishop, not the others or the SSPX followers.

B. This is not a matter of faith and morals but is a papal request and therefore an opportunity for the bishop to show good faith to the Pope as Pope; yet it allows him to ‘save face’ if he chooses and not comply. In any event, the Pope comes off looking great.

The ‘appearance’ of this was that ‘the Vatican’ was reinstating antiSemites. Of course, this appearance is WRONG and the Pope could have been absolutely justified to make the stance that this had nothing to do with the revoking of the excommunications, because it doesn’t. However, had he done so, the media would have tried to make things worse and relations with the Jews would have been set back years or worse.

This way, the appearance (and again, it is appearance) has been turned on its head. It’s a brilliant strategy. Now instead of the appearance of the Pope/Vatican being antiSemitic (an untrue thing), the appearance now reflects the TRUTH of the Pope being a loving, caring person who is concerned for truth and justice. Without Benedict compromising himself or appearing to ‘cave in’, the whole focus has shifted off ‘the big bad Vatican’ to the author of the entire mess itself–Bishop Williamson.

Who now has the chance to either submit (and set the precedent that he does abide by the law of the church even when it doesn’t relate to faith and morals) and make the whole transition of the SPPX smooth, and bring about union. . . or not to submit. If he doesn’t, that won’t affect the REST of the SPPX bishops or people, and they’ll know it. Instead of having the SPPX situation ‘set back’, Benedict has now made it even easier for them as they won’t be falsely accused of being antiSemitic!

I say the Pope is both brilliant AND loving. God bless him!!
 
Merkel said:
If Williamson actually returns to the Catholic Church one day that would be great. As a bishop though? No way!
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Don’t forget what ST Paul did…He took part in a stoning and persecuted Christians… and God chose him to be his evangelist God always makes lemonade from lemons

I never count anyone out
 
No, you’ve got the timeline mixed up. St. Paul stoned first and changed for the better after.

The bishop needs to be set down. He rose first then stoned. My opinion, anyway.
 
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