Posted on 02/03/2009 8:53:10 AM PST by Mrs. Frogjerk
Attacks on Pope Benedict XVI's decision to lift the excommunication of a Holocaust denier escalated Monday, with one theologian calling on him to step down as the head of the Roman Catholic Church. Criticism following the pope's January 24 announcement has been particularly cutting in Germany, where denying the Holocaust is a crime punishable with a jail sentence. "If the pope wants to do some good for the Church, he should leave his job," eminent liberal Catholic theologian Hermann Haering told the German daily Tageszeitung. "That would not be a scandal, a bishop has to relinquish his position at 75 years, a cardinal loses his rights at 80 years," he said. Pope Benedict is 81. Meanwhile, a senior Vatican official acknowledged the Vatican administration may have made "management errors" with the decision to lift excommunication against four bishops, including Richard Williamson, whose comments sparked the controversy.
(Excerpt) Read more at breitbart.com ...
All the pope is doing is trying to unify the Church to make it stronger. He has never agreed with anything in regards to what the offending bishop said about the Holocaust.
Pope John Paul despised the Nazi's. Pope Benedict was a close friend and counsel to Pope John Paul. If he was of the Nazi mentalty, this would have not been the case.
People should think before they open their mouths.
Whenever you hear someone talking about “unifying” what they really mean is “YOU shut up, while *I* can talk—then we’ll be united!”
I have no horse in this race, but if believers accept that being in the church brings one closer to God, why wouldn’t they want these people brought back into the church, so they can learn the error of their ways?
They have not been restored to their position as Bishops. They can just be buried in Catholic Cemeteries and given Last Rights.
If I understand it rightly the order that was removed from former excommunication had as member this particular bishop. However the bishop in question is still suspended though.
So ultimately its much another baseless attack on the Church from the pagans/protestants/and a group that will not be named for fear of upsetting them further.
“...liberal Catholic theologian Hermann Haering...”
Oxymoron alert!
I agree. The Bishop’s that he lifted the excommunication for still have to abide by Vatican II to be fully accepted back into the fold. It would benefit the Church and the Bishop’s if they did just that.
When I say “unify” I am referring to bringing back people who have fallen away and trying to teach them the error of their ways so that everybody can be one. With unity comes strength. In these times, we need to be as strong as possible!
I don’t see any protestant denomination attacking the Roman Catholic denomination.
I wouldn’t call for him to step down, but I think he should denounce the guy this week saying denying the holocaust didn’t make you an jew hater, and saying the gas chambers were just for cleaning.
Unless he says something about that, it totally looks like he’s fine with it, coming so fast after that rehabilitation as it does
I know, they have to fully accept Vatican II first. That is what makes these claims so baseless. The Pope isn’t just giving these Bishop’s a free pass, he wants them to repent and agree to come back fully.
It is merely an invitation.
“I don’t see any protestant denomination attacking the Roman Catholic denomination.”
Fascinating.
Yes, but does he have any back-tax issues?
We are hearing from the usual folks who jump at the chance to chastise the Pope and the Church.
I am sure that if he did it was just an honest “mistake”.
Red Haering!
Yes, it is fascinating that a supposed Christian like yourself would slander your brothers in Christ, in the name of denominational bickering.
I just hope they don't drop any white phosphorus on us Catholics.
Why should SSPX bishops or any Traditional Catholic accept the New Protestant Reformation? Actually it's much worse than that, but I won't get into things that would embarrass contemporary Catholics who are sincere in their devotions.
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