Vatican Demands Bishop Disavow Holocaust Denial

The Vatican has demanded that Bishop Richard Williamson "unequivocally" distance himself from statements he recently made on Swedish television concerning the Holocaust.

Williamson stated he did not believe that any Jews were killed in gas chambers during the Holocaust. Shortly after this statement he and three other bishops who had been excommunicated two decades ago were reinstated by Pope Benedict XVI. The Vatican has said the pontiff was unaware of Williamson's views.

Nonsense.

Williamson is part of the Society of St. Pius X. It explicitly rejects Vatican II and is notoriously anti-Semitic. The Vatican has also demanded that the Society accept Vatican II. While Williamson has apologized for the controversy he has not disavowed his views. I doubt the Vatican's demands will be met. Asking the Society of St. Pius X to accept Vatican II would be like asking Hamas to recognize the State of Israel. Even if Williamson were to publicly repudiate his views given how deeply held his views are one could only conclude that he was lying so he could remain in the Catholic Church.

In addition to his views on the Holocaust, Williamson also believes the September 11, 2001 attacks were co-ordinated by the U.S. government.