A pattern is emerging.
Line up powerful forces who scream outrage and with furrowed brow shake their heads in concern before cameras and mics. The MSM, both willing lapdog of the elite and paradoxically their impresario, turns it into news. They try to force a statement from the Pope.
Through incrementalism, if they can force the Pope to dance to their tune enough times, they think they can change the Church’s teachings too.
Powerful forces are lining up to force the Pope’s hand now.
In this article, btw, there some DISGRACEFUL writing by this Melissa Eddy, or by her editor above her. They should be ashamed of themselves.
Merkel: Pope must clarify Holocaust stance
By MELISSA EDDY, Associated Press Writer
BERLIN – German Chancellor Angela Merkel called on Pope Benedict XVI to make a "very clear" rejection of Holocaust denials after the Vatican’s rehabilitation of a former bishop who questioned whether 6 million Jews were gassed by the Nazis.Merkel’s rare and public demand came amid increasing outrage among Germany’s Roman Catholic leaders over the pope’s decision to lift the excommunication of British-born Richard Williamson.
Merkel said she "does not believe" there has been adequate clarification of the Vatican’s position on the Holocaust amid the controversy. [How clear does he have to be? How many ways will he have to say it before everyone is satisfied. (Trick question.) ]
Benedict last week expressed "full and indisputable solidarity" with Jews and warned against any denial of the horror of the Holocaust, but several leading German bishops have decried the decision and called for the rehabilitation to be revoked. [So.. the Pope is going to excommunicate them again?]
"I do not believe that sufficient clarification has been made," Merkel said.
The Vatican moved quickly to counter Merkel’s suggestion.
"The pope’s thinking on the subject of the Holocaust has been expressed very clearly," said Vatican spokesman Rev. Federico Lombardi.
He cited the German-born [Oooo… he’s German… see? SEE?] pope’s visit to a synagogue during his first visit to Germany as pope in 2005, a visit to Auschwitz in 2006 and his remarks during last week’s general audience.
"I hope that the memory of the Shoah leads humanity to reflect on the unpredictable power of evil when it conquers the heart of men," Lombardi quoted the pope as saying. "May the Shoah be a warning for all against oblivion, against denial or reductionism." [People might have looked this up. Don’t any of these people use Google or Nexis?]
Lombardi said that during the audience "the pope himself clearly explained the purpose of lifting the excommunication, which has nothing to do with any legitimization of positions denying the Holocaust, which were clearly condemned" by Benedict.
He described the pope’s statement as "unequivocal."
Merkel’s stand was out of the ordinary, said Elan Steinberg, vice president of the New York-based American Gathering of Holocaust Survivors and their Descendants.
"When the German Chancellor admonishes a German-born Pope it is an extraordinary message," Steinberg said in an e-mail to The Associated Press.
"Together with the expressions of outrage emanating from German and Austrian bishops, these developments have ironically strengthened relations between Germany and the world Jewish community."
The issue is particularly sensitive in Germany, where denial of the Holocaust is a crime and Roman Catholic leaders have worked hard to restore relations with the Jewish community.
Cardinal Francis George, president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, made his first comment on the controversy Tuesday, calling Williamson’s Holocaust denial "deeply offensive and utterly false." He affirmed the U.S. bishops’ opposition to anti-Semitism. [Right. Now everyone is going to be forced to run to the nearest mic or camera in order to affirm believe that the massacre of Jews took place. This is just wierd. Just watch! If you don’t run fast enough or your brow isn’t sufficently furrowed… if you don’t cluck your tongue loudly enough, you may be the next to be accused of not being sufficiently worried about Holocaust denial, which might mean… might mean… that you are … well.. one of those people. Maybe even a member of the SSPX!]
As a young man in Germany, Benedict, then called Joseph Ratzinger, served briefly [Wait for it… you knew it had to come….] in the Hitler Youth corps. [Entirely IRREPONSIBLE writing by AP. They should be ASHAMED to mention this without the circumstances young Ratzinger was in, how he resisted and was forced into it, what happened in the war.]
Williamson was consecrated by the late [Wait for it… the clichés are just popping off the fingers of the professional journalists now…] ultraconservative Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre without papal consent. The Holy See has said that removing the excommunication did not imply the Vatican shared his views.
Williamson, in an interview broadcast last month on Swedish state TV, said that historical evidence "is hugely against 6 million Jews having been deliberately gassed in gas chambers as a deliberate policy of Adolf Hitler." [They had to use this quote so that you, as the reader, would connect this with "Pope… Hilter Youth…"]
He cited what he called the estimates of the "most serious" revisionists that "between 200,000 and 300,000 perished in Nazi concentration camps, but not one of them by gassing in a gas chamber."
The accompanying video.
Loading ...
I have not listened to MSM on TV in 6 months. As well, if I see certain journalists such as for AP, I don’t bother reading it. It’s just too too too much like they are desperate for something to say or manipulating. My blood pressure can’t take it.
DISGUSTING.
Why have the Gentiles raged, and the people devised vain things? The kings of the earth stood up, and the princes met together, against the Lord and against his Christ. “Let us break their bonds asunder: and let us cast away their yoke from us.” He that dwelleth in heaven shall laugh at them: and the Lord shall deride them. Then shall he speak to them in his anger, and trouble them in his rage. (Psalm 2:1-5)
VIVA IL PAPA
“You are Peter, and on this rock I will build My Church.”
It’s amazing how the Evil One is using this. As we know, the SSPX have always stated that one of their “issues” with the Council was Nostrae Aetate. It isn’t that they are Anti-Semites. Bishop Williamson’s statements are certainly not held by the SSPX. Now, however, the Church is being called to renounce him in a more radical way than what has already been done. (As if it hasn’t been enough!) Watch to see if this over-reaction by many will not make the dialogue even more difficult by making the SSPX more cold to the entire ordeal. “A thief comes to steal, kill, and destroy, but I have come that they might have life, and have it more abundantly” (John 10:10).
Same Associated Press that got Barack Obama elected to the presidency?
Oh Robert Hugh Benson, how prescient you were.
“German Chancellor Merkel” – Hitler became “German Chancellor” in 1933.
However, we should love the German people, whether they are Christian or Jewish.
Suffice it to say that this has absolutely nothing to do with any particular sympathy the media have for the Jews – or certainly for Israel! It has everything to do with their hatred for the Holy Roman Church and what She represents.
It doesn\’t get any better than this!
To be derided and attacked by the very people who profess to be your enemy, whom you recognize as being in objective error, for doing something you believe is not only morally right, but thoroughly Christian, can only be construed as the highest praise.
I not only pray for the Pope and his intentions, but pray a prayer of thanksgiving that he has come this far!
Merkel is a member of the Bilderberg Group
Jesus Christ stated in Matthew 12:30 that “He who is not with Me is against Me, and he who does not gather with Me scatters.”
It becomes apparent that the life of hell begins in this world for many. The present wailing and gnashing of teeth coming from Christ’s enemies foreshadowing a future condition if they don’t repent. The world becomes for them an antechamber to hell. As we pray for the Holy Father and the Church let’s all please remember to pray also for those most in need of God’s mercy especially at mass when we receive Holy Communion.
Even the Communists occasionally permitted people to be rehabilitated, after public “self-criticism” in front of a party congress. Comrade Merkel, on the other hand, won’t even take “yes” for an answer.
I demand that Chancellor Merkel publicly apologize to the Holy Father, resign, and devote the rest of her life to a close study of the complete works of Hans Kung; it’s as close as one can come, in this world, to a direct experience of the pains of hell, and it might scare her straight.
I hope Pope Benedict keeps going and ignores this drivel. This is nothing about the jews anymore. It is a full fledged attack by the radical liberals on the Pope. CNN, AP-Obama, DW-tv germany, they all are harping his same story everyday.
What a day :/ Merkel’s CDU is on a very bad shape. The conservative part of the party is not present anymore. The german press is launching attacks with the “usual suspects”: Küng, Ranke-Heinemann e.g. Our bishops are divided, most of them don’t support the Pope or even try to calm down the situation with arguments.
Let’s pray for the Holy Father and the unity of the Church – Viva il Papa! :) Portae inferi non praevalebunt!
John Allen’s article springs to mind after reading this, and with all due respect I’m more convinced than ever that his assessment is wrong. There is no amount of PR that would overcome the wilfull ignorance of these grandstanding buffoons in the secular realm and the media that covers them.
HOLY FATHER: “I express my solidarity with, and love for, the Jews. I am deeply saddened by the unspeakable evil of the Shoah, and I assure you all that the lifting of Bishop Williamson’s excommunication is in no way an endorsement of his erroneous private historical judgments.”
THE WORLD: “Yes, but do you denounce the Holocaust and those who deny it?”
These people are enemies of the Church. Period.
And yes, we must love our enemies, but we needn’t tolerate their stupid bullshit.
Our Pope has done the right thing and now we are all seeing how viciously the pack of wolves are tearing apart their hunk of red meat (aka Bishop Williamson). And they absolutely don’t care who suffers along with him. They want what they want and NO ONE better get in their way! A truly despicable display.
Merkel must be a self-loathing German. That’s the only explanation for her idiotic diatribe. Tom
I hope that the Holy Father is not swayed by all this. I prayed for several years that he would be the next Pope. I believe that all this will lead to a new Evangelization of the world. All this will be turned into a positive by Our Lord.
Notice that all of this is about some “excommunication” – something that non-catholics (and many catholics) don’t really care about one way or another. What does a protestant care if some catholic is excommunicated or not? It means nothing to them. So why now all the rage about an excommunication being lifted? What do they care?
I said a second Rosary for the Holy Father today as my only intention and will again tomorrow and until we are throught this madness.
Any leader or organization that was truly interested in resolving concerns about these events surrounding the Holy See and the SSPX
would, of course, communicate those concerns with the Vatican through established channels and await a response. That’s how sincere people who truly wish to resolve an issue go about things. People such as Chancellor Merkel, those members of our own Congress
that sent that odious letter to the Pope, the members of the rabbinate so eager to publicly sever relations with the Vatican — these
are not sincere people, and they certainly don’t want any resolution to this issue until they’ve milked it for what it’s worth. They are not
interested in any clarifications issued by the Holy See. If the Vatican were to try to reach them, I doubt they’d take the call. These folks
would trample on resolution if it stood between them and a television crew.
Jewish and Catholic leaders that are truly interested in reaching understanding about this situation — what should they be doing in
the meantime? What would helpful behavior look like?
This is just another situation of “Political Correctness” grandstanding. It’s shameful.
This entire fiasco is a total PR stunt and a joke. There is nothing here and everybody is getting excited about it. All you readers who are posting here are falling trap to the media’s sensationalism. This is exactly what the media wants is for you to read these articles and care about them. Do you think the Pope and anybody else high in the Church gives a flying kite about these media reports? If they did they would have kept the Williamson rehabilitation quiet for a few weeks before releasing it. As Fr. Z has said this pales in comparison to the Regensburg “scandal”.
This “scandal” has already been surpassed in the US by the Super Bowl and the Maciel scandal. It is over here. In Europe it might brew a bit longer but I wouldn’t worry. Media scrutny lasts a max of 10 days. We are quickly approaching the end of that. Just hold on for a few more days and you will never hear of this again. It’s the death rattle of the wacko element in the Church and media. There’s nothing to see here. Go home.
This is the test. Can the church remain the church while engaged with the modern world. Can it be true to itself. No doubt the modernists would like now to use this as a pretext to chase the Papacy from the Vatican, which they may do. Or to attemp to declare Benedict anti-pope for not appeasing them. May the Holy Father stand firm. God SAVE Benedict XVI, and let him triumph over those who would undo him. God SAVE the Holy Father.
All of this is payback for Summorum Pontificum. The liberals hate the Tridentine Mass so much that they will do anything to stop and discredit in anyway they can. Also to destroy anyone connected to it or that advocate it. The Holy Father should just ignore it all and not dignify it with a response as if it were entitled to one.
I’m absolutely overwhelmed by the vitriolic tone regarding the lifting of the excommunications by the Holy Father. In my opinion the so-called “Catholic politicians” that have attempted to insert their opinions into something that I strongly believe to be exclusively Papal, Church Business, and, to be discussed among Catholic laymen,and Clergy of the Holy Catholic Church of Rome i.e. not persons who identify themselves as congressmen first who happen to be Catholic; by the way Dennis Kucinich is PRO ABORTION, which from my perspective diqualifies him as Catholic. I know, I live in his district.
Contacting Associated Press:
“1. How do I send a correction or letter to the editor?
Send an e-mail to info@ap.org and it will be forwarded to the reporter or editor.”
Found at http://www.ap.org/pages/about/faq.html#1
It sounds as if Merkel is relying on second-hand information from a third-hand source. Nothing new there. This is the Germany that was even more enamored of Barack Obama last summer – when he was in Europe apologizing for America.
A friend sent me a video that she said was THE controversial interview. It sounded to me as if Williamson was not denying the Holocaust, but the literal claim that more than six million Jews were killed by gas chambers. He said that it was a logistical impossibility. Of course, a terrible number of Jews were murdered by other means, and I suspect that it (gas chambers) may serve universally as a metonymy. Nevertheless – and I have not been able to listen to the entire interview or read all the appropriate summaries – I think it entirely possible that people are hearing Williamson saying what they want to hear him saying.
In defense of Cardinal George, his statement was taken out of context. His entire statement appears to show support( and create perspective on the issue )for the Holy Father. Here is the link:
http://www.usccb.org/comm/archives/2009/09-031.shtml
Everyone of the Catholic critics who is pro-abortion (my guess – most) should first explain why they should be allowed to remain in the Church.
Disgraceful reporting. Sad that every prelate and politician feels like they have to make some public statement to cover their rears. Also, what will it take to get the message out that the HF doesn’t approve of these remarks. How stupid to buy the idea that he’s anti-Semitic.
Fr.Z,
Some months ago, you spoke of closing this blog. It is because of misinformation like this AP story that your wit and wisdom are sorely needed. Not only will I pray for the HF, but I will pray for you. Do not succumb to the PC forces out there, and be of good cheer. You are struggling to be a faithful son of the church when it is easy to go along with the flow.
Many of us take this information and share it when the mind-numbed TV-watchers regurgitate the headlines that we see above. So keep it coming!
Let us not pretend that it is left-wing “enemies of the Pope” who have fueled the hateful and false claims that the SSPX is anti-Semitic.
For years, it has been conservatives who have attacked the SSPX viciously and, in particular, claimed that the SSPX and anti-Semitism go hand-in-hand.
I offer two examples (scores of such exist) of that reality:
From the conservative Ratzinger Fan Club…
http://www.ratzingerfanclub.com/blog/2003/12/anti-semitism-another-obstacle-to-sspx.html
“Bill Cork’s post raises what I think is one of the biggest obstacles to restoration of the SSPX to communion with Rome: a persistent and re-occuring link with anti-semitism…”
An excerpt from the infamous anti-Traditional Catholic hit piece — a true piece of garbage — from Crisis Magazine:
Swinging at Windmills; A Close Look at Catholic Conspiracy Theories
Crisis Magazine
By Sandra Miesel
Question: Who’s afraid of Jews in the boardroom? Freemasons in the basement? Reds under the bed? Black helicopters in the sky? Answer: A surprising number of otherwise sensible people. Even under the new shadow of terrorism, old fears live on, breeding bogeys that knot together in a vipers’ tangle of menace.
Regrettably, Catholics do their share of worrying about the Judeo-Masonic-Communist conspiracy and/or the imminent arrival of the Antichrist to rule over the New World Order.
Their anxieties are often fueled by anti-Semitic screeds, polemical histories, eccentric economics, and even heavenly messages.
Fear-mongering is standard fare in the pages of radical traditionalist publications such as The Remnant, Catholic Family News, and The Fatima Crusader. The principal Catholic publisher of such conspiracy theories is Omni/Christian Book Club of Palmdale, California.”
I had forgotten to attach the following to my post above…regarding the fact that conservative Catholics and their publications, rather than liberals, have for years led the “anti-Semitism is rampant among SSPX and Traditional Catholics” attack.
1. It would be interesting to ask leading Catholic conservatives as to why they promoted for years such hateful lies against the SSPX and Traditional Catholics in general.
2. It would be interesting if researchers could determine whether various folks and/or groups fed money to a number of leading conservative Catholics (and a number of conservative Catholic publications) to induce conservative Catholics to level the charge of anti-Semitism against the SSPX and Traditional Catholics in general.
The Church… intends to continue to raise her voice in defense of mankind, even when policies of States and the majority of public opinion moves in the opposite direction. Truth, indeed, draws strength from itself and not from the amount of consent it arouses. —POPE BENEDICT XVI, Vatican, March 20, 2006
As a fairly recent convert (2002), the impression I have personally gotten from reading traditionalist web sites and literature (and talking to a number of traditionalists) has been that there *is* a problem with anti-semitism, very strange distortions of history and conspiracy theories in the traditionalist community. Now, I know that such positions aren’t universally held, but to pretend that the problem doesn’t exist at all is at best delusional.
Another parable he proposed to them, saying: The kingdom of heaven is likened to a man that sowed good seeds in his field. 25 But while men were asleep, his enemy came and oversowed cockle among the wheat and went his way.
Matthew 13:26. And when the blade was sprung up, and had brought forth fruit, then appeared also the cockle. 27 And the servants of the goodman of the house coming said to him: Sir, didst thou not sow good seed in thy field? whence then hath it cockle? 28 And he said to them: An enemy hath done this. And the servants said to him: Wilt thou that we go and gather it up? 29 And he said: No, lest perhaps gathering up the cockle, you root up the wheat also together with it.
Just a quick aside, it is “mainstream Novus Ordo Catholicism” where anti-Semitism is supposedly “widespread”, according to many Jewish groups, such as the ADL. The ADL,, for example, claims that anti-Semitism is rampant among hundreds of millions of Hispanic Catholics.
Therefore, you supposedly should have encountered rampant anti-Semitism at your parish.
Now…
The interesting thing is that so-called “Traditional Catholic anti-Semitism and conspiracy theories” simply reflects Catholic thought that is found among the Church Fathers, Saints and Popes.
Catholic Traditionalists have even been labeled “anti-Semitic” for having prayed the Church’s traditional Good Friday prayer for the Jews.
Again, the perfect example from a conservative Catholic publication regarding the charge of anti-Semitism and crazy ideas against Traditional Catholics is the vicious “Swinging at Windmills; A Close Look at Catholic Conspiracy Theories” article that was published by Crisis Magazine.
Conservative Catholics at Crisis Magazine mocked and linked Traditional Catholics to anti-Semitism for their (Traditional Catholics) having dared to discuss Freemasons.
Sorry, I don’t share your view regarding anti-Semitism and Traditional Catholics.
Another parable he proposed to them, saying: The kingdom of heaven is likened to a man that sowed good seeds in his field. But while men were asleep, his enemy came and oversowed cockle among the wheat and went his way. And when the blade was sprung up, and had brought forth fruit, then appeared also the cockle. And the servants of the goodman of the house coming said to him: Sir, didst thou not sow good seed in thy field? whence then hath it cockle? And he said to them: An enemy hath done this. And the servants said to him: Wilt thou that we go and gather it up? And he said: No, lest perhaps gathering up the cockle, you root up the wheat also together with it.
– Matthew 13
Ed: EVERY AP reporter’s email is the initial of their first name followed by their last name @ ap.org. So this reporter’s email address is meddy@ap.org
Father, we just prayed the family Rosary for the Holy Father.
I’m hoping the silver lining in all of this is that the not-so-friendly to the SSPX Catholics (some refer to them as neocons) now huddle with those in and around the SSPX and we become one army, one Church Militant and surround the Pontiff with the support he needs. We must forgo the liturgical fights and defend our Holy Father!
And then please just go to the TLM after this fight is done :)
Perhaps someone more video crafty than I can put a video together with the following to give answer to these unjust critics:
Images of the Holy Father praying at Birkenau with the rainbow that was behind him. The caption might read: The Pope has made a statement; and God gave a sign that He had heard.
See: http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/41698000/jpg/_41698806_rainbow416ap.jpg
All of this ridiculous hoopla over nothing, while in the U.S. and Canada there are Muslims walking around in public with awful protest signs reading “Back to the ovens with the Jews” and the media has pretty much completely ignored it.
I am a traditional Catholic married to a Jewish guy and I have never seen any evidence of anti-Semitism in the Catholic church. I cannot imagine it. My husband keeps up with the news and also I leave a trail of church bulletins and missals all through the house, so he knows what is going on. He has nothing but admiration for the Catholic Church, appreciates its support for Israel, and has been tremendously supportive of me as I have begun going to the Latin Mass and getting more into my faith. And I am German, too! I should throw that in. Here is what I would like to say to the Holy Father given the chance: I work for the paper here in Buffalo, N.Y., and all of us there know that if there is one thing people love to do, it is point fingers and call other people racist. It is empty and stupid. Memo to the Pope: Hold your ground and don’t give in to these bullies. Thank you, Father Z, for letting me have my say.
Credo, the Left sympathizes with such people – the Muslims carrying signs saying “back into the ovens Jews” and those shooting Qassam rockets into Israel – yet they have the nerve to pretend offense at the forgiveness by the Pope of one loopy bishop. They are witnesses against themselves, these vipers.
Gravitas:
Given how the writer of the article has manipulated the words of the Cardinal, perhaps it is her supervisor that we should be writing to.
Thank you Credo. Maureen said it also on another thread. It isn’t the Pope who will drop a bomb on Israel.
@Dan: I haven’t seen huge problems with anti-semitism at the NO parishes I’ve been to. Granted, I’m not basing my opinions on the ADL or on Crisis (which I’ve read very little of).
Perhaps we should clarify what we mean by anti-semitism. Here is what I would say with respect to some particular cases:
– praying for the conversion of the Jews: not anti-semitic
– propagating the blood libel: anti-semitic
– arguing that Judaism and Christianity are necessarily opposed on the matter of Christ: not anti-semitic
– arguing that Jews must be segregated from the rest of society and made second-class citizens in order to frustrate their plots for domination: anti-semitic
As I said elsewhere, to his great shame, +Williamson has handed the enemies of the Holy Father a very sharp knife and they will use it against him.
Although it should be obvious by now, it’s important to understand how this kind of thing works. Liberal elements in the church and their allies in the secular media are in the process of creating the kind of moral inversion that has been built up around, for example, abortion. They will then use that moral inversion to rally forces on their side, demonize the other side, bully weaker opponents into silence, and blunt the initiative of opponents by forcing them to constantly battle from an “everyone knows” fantasy back to reality before real argument can even begin.
It’s an extremely effective tactic.
With abortion the moral inversion is that opposition to abortion is about subjection of women. “Everyone knows” this even though it’s not true. In reality opposition to abortion is about defending the basic human rights of an entire class of people and stopping the slaughter of millions of innocents.
In this case, the moral inversion will be that Pope Benedict’s wonderful program of reviving the beauty of catholic tradition and re-evangelizing those lost to the trivialization of that tradition is really about bigotry.
It’s important to refuse to allow yourself to be drawn through the looking glass into that inverted fantasy world.
I have a special fondness for Pope Benedict and it’s heartbreaking to watch this. Please pray for him and for the conversion of his enemies.
Let us pray for the enemies of the One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church.
I just thought that it might be a good idea to show Merkel that there are quite a few Catholics around on this planet who are disgusted by her attack against the Holy Father. If you want to drop her a line:
http://www.bundeskanzlerin.de/Webs/BK/DE/Service/Kontakt/kontakt.html
What an astounding impertinence from a hypocrit who would deny church interference in affairs of state. The converse ought to be respected. If she had an appropriate intelligence she would read what statements already exist in the public domain on this matter. However, such characters always have both eyes on the popular vote at the next election.
This is very outrageous and disgusting. Now, I hear that there is a liberal theologian calling for the Holy Father’s Resignation. This is irritating, unfair, and VERY Anti-Catholic. The lifting of the excommunications was an Act of Mercy by HH which is basically an internal affair and it has nothing to do with politics. The rhetoric of one man should not befall the many kind-hearted, and sincere folks who are part of the SSPX movement! I pray for the Holy Father and that this windstorm will die soon. All we want is unity, but it is stinks of the Evil One’s work….
Is it not true that singing the politically correct tunes of non-Catholics was the very Spirit of Vatican II that blew the smoke of Satan into the Church in the first place?
Here we are again. Please God, grant that we get it right this time.
Oremus pro Pontifice nostro Benedicto
The smoke-blowing “Spirit of Vatican II” is first and foremost the spirit of disobedience, whether expressed in inappropriate concessions to “mainstream” fashion and political correctness, or in other ways. If Vatican II were observed honestly, without applying a hermenutic of discontinuity or effectively treating its requirements as “more suggestions than actual rules”, or making up things the council never proposed, the NO mass would not be the train wreck it is.
Mike is entirely correct, by the way, with the exception that — if so many are apparently incapable of seeing actual anti-semitism in something like the blood libel, or else understanding why such a position is problematic independently of concern for political correctness — the problem is much bigger than Bishop Williamson.
Please how would Williamson know a “serious revisionist” from an ordinary one? He has no historical standing, and his views are rejected by all serious historians. Why do people listen to this ignoramus and give him a spurious importance? It is very silly to ask the Pope to repudiate views which are only held by obvious nutcases actuated not by study of the evidence – all those meticulous SS material, those survivors, those still living who operated the machinery of death – but by hatred of the people from whom the Lord and His apostles came. The Pope should not be required to repudiate obvious lies.
Yes, you have to write to the “Kanzlerin” (Benno gave the link). There are now some reactions in Germany, defending the Holy Father. Look at http://www.generation-benedikt.de or at http://www.kath.net. And pray for the Holy Father, the wolfes are around.
Mental guy,
Anti-semitism is evil; as are cowardic and pandering at the expense of the Truth.
– German Chancellor Angela Merkel called on Pope Benedict XVI to make a “very clear” rejection of Holocaust denials after the Vatican’s rehabilitation of a former bishop who questioned whether 6 million Jews were gassed by the Nazis.
LOL Our Sweet Jesus on Earth in holy and brilliant. He will not respond to this demagogic “Have-you-stopped-beating-your-wife” attack and she will be left sputtering, revealed as just another pathetic politician with nothing of substance or value to offer.
I could not be more serious. Ignoring these clowns is the best way to deal with them. Let indifference permanently rain down upon their petulant parades.
From today’s Bulletin of the Holy See Press Office:
NOTA DELLA SEGRETERIA DI STATO
A seguito delle reazioni suscitate dal recente Decreto della Congregazione per i Vescovi, con cui si rimette la scomunica ai quattro Presuli della Fraternità San Pio X, e in relazione alle dichiarazioni negazioniste o riduzioniste della Shoah da parte del Vescovo Williamson della medesima Fraternità, si ritiene opportuno chiarire alcuni aspetti della vicenda.
1. Remissione della scomunica.
Come già pubblicato in precedenza, il Decreto della Congregazione per i Vescovi, datato 21 gennaio 2009, è stato un atto con cui il Santo Padre veniva benignamente incontro a reiterate richieste da parte del Superiore Generale della Fraternità San Pio X.
Sua Santità ha voluto togliere un impedimento che pregiudicava l’apertura di una porta al dialogo. Egli ora si attende che uguale disponibilità venga espressa dai quattro Vescovi in totale adesione alla dottrina e alla disciplina della Chiesa.
La gravissima pena della scomunica latae sententiae, in cui detti Vescovi erano incorsi il 30 giugno 1988, dichiarata poi formalmente il 1° luglio dello stesso anno, era una conseguenza della loro ordinazione illegittima da parte di Mons. Marcel Lefebvre.
Lo scioglimento dalla scomunica ha liberato i quattro Vescovi da una pena canonica gravissima, ma non ha cambiato la situazione giuridica della Fraternità San Pio X, che, al momento attuale, non gode di alcun riconoscimento canonico nella Chiesa Cattolica. Anche i quattro Vescovi, benché sciolti dalla scomunica, non hanno una funzione canonica nella Chiesa e non esercitano lecitamente un ministero in essa.
2. Tradizione, dottrina e Concilio Vaticano II.
Per un futuro riconoscimento della Fraternità San Pio X è condizione indispensabile il pieno riconoscimento del Concilio Vaticano II e del Magistero dei Papi Giovanni XXIII, Paolo VI, Giovanni Paolo I, Giovanni Paolo II e dello stesso Benedetto XVI.
Come è già stato affermato nel Decreto del 21 gennaio 2009, la Santa Sede non mancherà, nei modi giudicati opportuni, di approfondire con gli interessati le questioni ancora aperte, così da poter giungere ad una piena e soddisfacente soluzione dei problemi che hanno dato origine a questa dolorosa frattura.
3. Dichiarazioni sulla Shoah.
Le posizioni di Mons. Williamson sulla Shoah sono assolutamente inaccettabili e fermamente rifiutate dal Santo Padre, come Egli stesso ha rimarcato il 28 gennaio scorso quando, riferendosi a quell’efferato genocidio, ha ribadito la Sua piena e indiscutibile solidarietà con i nostri Fratelli destinatari della Prima Alleanza, e ha affermato che la memoria di quel terribile genocidio deve indurre “l’umanità a riflettere sulla imprevedibile potenza del male quando conquista il cuore dell’uomo”, aggiungendo che la Shoah resta “per tutti monito contro l’oblio, contro la negazione o il riduzionismo, perché la violenza fatta contro un solo essere umano è violenza contro tutti”.
Il Vescovo Williamson, per una ammissione a funzioni episcopali nella Chiesa dovrà anche prendere in modo assolutamente inequivocabile e pubblico le distanze dalle sue posizioni riguardanti la Shoah, non conosciute dal Santo Padre nel momento della remissione della scomunica.
Il Santo Padre chiede l’accompagnamento della preghiera di tutti i fedeli, affinché il Signore illumini il cammino della Chiesa. Cresca l’impegno dei Pastori e di tutti i fedeli a sostegno della delicata e gravosa missione del Successore dell’Apostolo Pietro quale “custode dell’unità” nella Chiesa.
Dal Vaticano, 4 febbraio 2009
We need to keep in mind: the media hate Catholicism and they are beholden to the idea that the Church was in part responsible for the holocaust, or at the very least, didn’t do much or anything to stop it (the ongoing Pius XII smear).
This is seen by them as an opportunity to link the Church with the holocaust, and they will not let the facts get in the way of their agenda.
I would like to propose that people consider making a particular sacrifice, or adding an act of charity, this Lent specifically for the Holy Father. It doesn’t have to be something huge. It could be something very small. It is the love with which is done, and the filial devotion to our Holy Father and our Mother the Church, that counts the most.
How can anyone deny the gas chambers…What were they there for? And still are, and the stockpiles of Zyclon Poison…What a horror that it happened and more of one that people deny it. Sad, people are using the sufferings of millions and causing suffering to our Papa who is trying to unify all of us…I say Leave him Alone !!!!!
There are those who deny that the crucifixion of Christ ever occurred. There are those who deny that the persecution
of christians occurred. You don’t see us up in arms demanding said people be punished by imprisonment or publicly
lashed for it. We pray for those people. It seems to me that the memory of this holocaust (which did happen) has been perverted into a form of worship
of the jewish people that I for one will never bow to. I will respect other people, I will never respect any
false religion.
Barb
Fiat Voluntas Tua
The Holy Father has been kicked around since he was prefect of the CDF. While I imagine this is very painful for him, it’s probably also “white noise” by this time. How many more times can people say they hate him and have any effect?
Stupid politicians…the Holy Father should just ignore them.
Thanks Mary, for your standing up for the Holy Father [I’m half-German myself…my late mother came from the area around Mannheim].
And thanks to you Michael, for letting us know that there are people who support Papa Benedict in his homeland!
Of course we should not feel too surprised when our enemies hurl invective our way–what else would we expect them to do? Our best response might very well be silence.
Mike
“There are those who deny that the crucifixion of Christ ever occurred. There are those who deny that the persecution
of christians occurred.”
True, but irrelevant. Jesus’ divinity is a matter of faith. Only the nuttiest radical atheists deny that at least a Jew named Jesus existed, obtained a controversial popular following, and was crucified. And they do so 1900+ years afterward, not within the same generation. I doubt the persecution of Christians was popularly denied within 40 years of Constantine’s edict. Holocaust denial is analogous to a group of Romans circa AD 100 denying the sack of Jerusalem, even while passing daily past the slave markets of Jewish captives and the imperial columns and arches describing the sack for posterity.