Posted on 02/04/2009 12:21:53 PM PST by Free ThinkerNY
Pope Benedict XVI's decision to rehabilitate Holocaust-denier Bishop Richard Williamson back into the Catholic Church has been heavily criticised - but does the Vatican really know the extent of Williamson's outrageous beliefs?
Williamson (68) was excommunicated from the Catholic Church in 1988 and has now been rehabilitated by Benedict XVI. He is currently in the priest seminary of the ultra conservative Society of St. Pius X, in Argentina, hidden behind thick walls lined with barbed wire.
People around the world are now asking themselves - how could the Pope rehabilitate this madman?
(Excerpt) Read more at bild.de ...
In all seriousness, this is a very ugly problem for the Church. Very ugly.
Are you Catholic? If you are you should realize that this whole tempest is patent nonsense. If you’re not it’s really none of your business.
Yes, they've condemned his views and according to most reports insisted today he recant. Generally antisemitic views held by the SSPX may be an issue to be dealt with over time, but Williamson's views were neither a surprise, nor related to his ex-communication, thus not really an issue.
Holocaust deniers and 09/11 truthers are everyone’s interest.
If a person in a position of power/notoriety/prominence is spewing such stuff it's everybody's business.
So says Herr Hitler
Not in any way conservatives — sound more like Ultra-Liberals!
The Pope did not "rehabilitate" this man, he merely stated that he was no longer excommunicated for activities having nothing to do with his beliefs about the holocaust or 911. This man is not now, and never was, a bishop of the Catholic Church. He is, however, a Catholic. Some Catholics, like some from every other religion, have strange and wrong beliefs. Nothing new or shocking here.
I couldn't care less what you or anyone else thinks of the Archbishop. Personally I think he's a first class ass but that's not the question here. The question is whether or not there are grounds to allow the bishops in question back into the fullness of Communion with the Church. They're atupid political opinions are their own business. Attack them if you like...I don't care.
The Holy Father's actions were proper and prudent and completey misunderstood by most of the hyena pack I've seen opining on the situation.
Who are you calling Hitler a-hole?
This would be the worst mistake Vatican could do, if it came up with this as a response.
People OUGHT to know better. #1. The media hates the Catholic Church. #2 This story has been twisted into an unrecognizable form counter to the truth....by the media!
In case you hadn’t noticed, the Pope’s not looking for your vote.
Referring to the removal of the canonical penalty of excommunication as "rehabilitation" is part of the problem. It's a commutation of sentence, not an endorsement of the guy. That's all.
Yes, they've responded far better than many of their defenders.
This business provides many examples. Instead of ripping to shreds the bias and distortion in the press, folks treat it as gospel.
He's a bishop -- ordained illegally, over the then-Pope's objections -- of a sect at the fringes of the Catholic Church; just this side of schismatic.
If he has any "power," it's not power the Pope gave him. All the Pope gave him was a qualified forgiveness.
Will the Society of Saint Pious recognize Vatican II?
Is that implicit in the revocation of the excommunicato?
My view is this, if the Bishop, or the Society, believe the Holocaust as presented is a sham, they should stick by their beliefs, if not, then Williamson should recant his interview.
IMO, I don’t care if one is a “denier” I do care if one is not honest about it.
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