Posted on 02/11/2009 9:36:09 AM PST by NYer
Bishop Richard Williamson's denial of the Holocaust has done serious damage to the Catholic Church. In an e-mail and fax exchange with SPIEGEL, the ultra-conservative bishop says that he is willing to "review the historical evidence."
SPIEGEL: The Vatican is demanding that you retract your denial of the Holocaust, and it is threatening to not allow you to resume your activities as a bishop. How will you react?
Williamson: Throughout my life, I have always sought the truth. That is why I converted to Catholicism and became a priest. And now I can only say something, the truth of which I am convinced. Because I realize that there are many honest and intelligent people who think differently, I must now review the historical evidence once again. I said the same thing in my interview with Swedish television: Historical evidence is at issue, not emotions. And if I find this evidence, I will correct myself. But that will take time.
SPIEGEL: How can an educated Catholic deny the Holocaust?
Williamson: I addressed the subject in the 1980s. I had read various writings at the time. I cited the Leuchter report (eds. note: a debunked theory produced in the 1980s claiming erroneously that the Nazi gas chambers were technically impractical) in the interview, and it seemed plausible to me. Now I am told that it has been scientifically refuted. I plan now to look into it.
SPIEGEL: You could travel to Auschwitz yourself.
Williamson: No, I will not travel to Auschwitz. I've ordered the book by Jean-Claude Pressac. It's called "Auschwitz: Technique and Operation of the Gas Chambers." A printout is now being sent to me, and I will read it and study it.
(Excerpt) Read more at spiegel.de ...
Williamson: St. Paul put it this way: The Jews are beloved for the sake of Our Father, but our enemies for the sake of the gospel.
Is Williamson competiting with the Church of England leadership (who want to accomodate Muzzies and Sharia Law) to see who can be the bigger idiots?
Not nitpicking ... that's an important difference.
Did Williamson teach Bill Clinton how to evade issues and compose weasel-worded statements, or did Clinton teach him?
Yes, and one thing people are ignoring is the fact that until the SSPX becomes a regularized part of the Catholic Church again, there is NOTHING the Pope can do about Williamson or any other of them.
Can anyone cite the scriptural references of Williamson.
shalom b'SHEM Yah'shua HaMashiach Adonai
Obviously, the issue before the Pope is whether or not such regularaization should proceed, and if so under what conditions and requirements.
Romans 11:1
I say then, Hath God cast away his people? God forbid. For I also am an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin.
Romans 11:11
I say then, Have they stumbled that they should fall? God forbid: but rather through their fall salvation is come unto the Gentiles, for to provoke them to jealousy.
I don’t know what he’s referring to, but a search for similar phrases as his turned up nothing except his own saying of it.
ping
He has absolutely no leverage over them until they have returned to the Church.
Also, failure to “believe” in the Holocaust is obviously lunacy and a denial of reality that makes it clear that the person who holds that position is not rational.
But it’s not a heresy, and there are many irrational people in the Church, and as such they receive the pastoral care that is appropriate. In his case, it will probably be removal and seclusion, because of his public status.
B16 needs to muzzle this dude. Pull him to the Vatican and give him a nice cell to meditate on that book he’s getting. Let him be there for a VERY long time.
He is referencing Romans 11:28
28 As regards the gospel, they are enemies, but for your sake; but as regards those who are God’s choice, they are still well loved for the sake of their ancestors.
>>and there are many irrational people in the Church<<
Some in our own parishes.
Some who voted for 0.
Some to lead them to believe this was okay.
And in my parish, the Ron Paul people who voted 0 in.
Uh.....what "historical evidence"?
Is it anything like the "evidence" you reviewed on the WTC attacks before coming to the conclusion that 9/11 was an inside job and the work of a Jewish conspiracy? What exactly was that "evidence" again?
If it is, don't bother. It will be an utter waste of time.
Your "historical evidence" is just a euphemism for "reading books". Just like the rest of us. That's not primary "historical evidence". It's second, third and sometimes fourth hand information, hearsay and conspiracy theories masquerading as fact. Williamson has simply done what is done here on FR every day. Embraced those works which fit his own prejudices and dismissed those which don't.
Somebody get this guy a clue.
The priest is working hard to avoid the truth. He should be let go and find a more suitable profession. Maybe Baghdad Bob has an opening.
Denial of reality at that level is creepy.
The priest is working hard to avoid the truth. He should be let go and find a more suitable profession. Maybe Baghdad Bob has an opening.
Denial of reality at that level is creepy or evil - both...
According to the interview, Williamson is a convert. Does anyone know from which denomination he converted?
I suggest we give the damn fool the Mr. T treatment: quick hypodermic in the thigh and on the plane he goes.
Obviously, the issue before the Pope is whether or not such regularaization should proceed, and if so under what conditions and requirements.
It is most illogical for you to champion belief in Churban 'Europa' while classifying so many other events of Jewish history as "mythology."
Once again atheists and enlightenment types avoid the unpleasant fact that the history and survival of the Jewish People is the greatest evidence for the existence of G-d in history by turning them into chr*st-figures in an anti-religious "passion play," suffering and dying at the hands of "religion" in order to bring about a glorious G-d-free secular age.
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