U.S. Catholic bishops condemn comments by SSPX bishop

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Comments: 16

Washington D.C., Feb 3, 2009 / 08:29 pm (CNA).- Reactions against Bishop Richard Williamson’s remarks diminishing the Holocaust are coming from all corners of the globe. On Tuesday afternoon, Cardinal Francis George, the president of the U.S. Bishops’ Conference, added the bishops’ voices to the chorus of condemnation.

Cardinal George said in his statement that the lifting of the excommunications from the four St. Pius X Society bishops is “but a first step” toward their entering “back into full communion with the Catholic Church."

One condition that still must be resolved, Cardinal George pointed out, is that, “they, like all Catholic bishops, will have to give their assent to all that the Church professes, including the teachings of the Second Vatican Council.”

Addressing the controversial comments made by Bishop Williamson about the Holocaust, Cardinal George described them as “deeply offensive and utterly false.”

“Bishop Williamson has denied historical facts about the Shoah, in which six million Jews were cruelly annihilated, innocent victims of blind racial and religious hatred. These comments have evoked understandable outrage from within the Jewish community and also from among our own Catholic people. No Catholic, whether lay person, priest or bishop can ever negate the memory of the Shoah, just as no Catholic should ever tolerate expressions of anti-Semitism and religious bigotry,” the cardinal said.

On behalf of all the Catholic bishops in the United States, Cardinal George stated that they are “as committed as ever to building bonds of trust and mutual understanding with our elder brothers and sisters, the Jewish people, so that together with them we may be a blessing to the world.”

Comments: 16

Subscriber comments:

Published by: Amos
Dayton, NJ/USA 02/05/2009 03:22 PM EST

Williamson and the other three SSPX bishops are not considered bona fide members of the "club" in the eyes of the American bishops because in the words of Al Sharpton, "they ain't from the 'hood." There own kind can be guilty as moral turpitude when it comes to covering up or engaging in sexual delicta, and they'll "circle the wagons." But let an SSPX bishop step out of line, and its "off with his head." What rank hypocrisy!

Published by: BJ
Louisville, KY 02/05/2009 02:32 PM EST

The vast majority believe the shoah story. It seems to this correspondent that the majority, since Eden, have seldom, if ever, been right about anything, anytime, anywhere.

P.T. Barnum was probably right, especially in this God forsaken land.

Published by: RFMcC
Danbury/ CT 02/05/2009 06:38 AM EST

So it is now apparent that the acceptance of the "Shoah" is a part of the Profession of Faith!

Lord, have mercy on us!

Published by: anseo
n.y 02/05/2009 12:32 AM EST

Anyone is free to deny the divinity of Christ but not the Holocaust. Interesting.

Published by: anne levecque
phoenix az 02/04/2009 10:12 PM EST

to deny the holocaust,gas chambers.makes no sence. what aboue fr kolby.maxamillian.do they think he never existed
annie

Published by: Michael Burns SOM
W/MA/US 02/04/2009 09:10 PM EST

It's not about going against the Pope, it's about this particular Bishop making statements not in line with Church teaching. The excommunication was lifted, but issues such as this Bishops statements have yet to be resolved.

Published by: Dorothy
Santa Rosa CA 02/04/2009 07:51 PM EST

To me 200,000 - 300,000 is just as many to many, as 6 million would be. I think the dispute here in not on if the act was right, rather than wrong, but on the way the numbers were determined. Did any of those now offering their opinions do the counting? The Pope's actions where on trying to heal a chism...the secular interests and press is loving this opportunity to divide, and cause an even greater one.

Published by: Jgonzales
Albuquerque, NM 02/04/2009 01:54 PM EST

Why is it the New Cafeteria Catholic Bishops don't have to listen to their LEADER the POPE, disagree or fight what he does!! Is this not disobeying?

Published by: jm
haddam,ct, us 02/04/2009 11:33 AM EST

Who are these bishops to condemn the Pontiff? If they followed his wisdom and charity instead of blustering forth with their outraged 'opinions' we Catholics would have alot more credibility. Williamson's opinions are his own wacky, controversial opinions, just as the USSCB have theirs. Witness the subtle pro-Obama, pre- election waffling. Who ARE they trying to kid?

Published by: J.B.
KY, USA 02/04/2009 11:04 AM EST

The USCCB must have been overjoyed at Bishop Williamson's unwise comment. It has given them the needed fuel to discredit the SSPX and divert attention from the problems in the Church decried by this society, which otherwise would naturally be being addressed/discussed as a result of the lifting of the censure and likely regularization of the SSPX.

Published by: Christine
USA 02/04/2009 11:03 AM EST

Since when is telling the truth a sin? Since when does someones opinions on how they feel about something against any law.So basically our own Bishops here in America are against freedom of speech and thought.Bishop Williamson was not being anti-semitic for what he said,so having your own thoughts are wrong.Since when do we have to believe everything we are told? God gave us free will,that includes free thought.You American Bishops have clearly went against our God given rights.I am catholic but I have to admit I am questioning this religion because these type of articles I read that come from fellow catholics.

Published by: Art Jones
cape coral fl.-usa 02/04/2009 10:00 AM EST

to be accepted from excommunication,this priest must be required to renounce his belief that 6million were not killed.to accept him as is would be to endorse his anti -semetic stand.

Published by: Myles Keogh
Fort Riley Kansas 02/04/2009 09:08 AM EST

SSPX Bishop Williamson's are absurd to say the least. With that said though it is troublesome that our bishops seem to have more spine in speaking out against a him for his gross historical inaccuracies then they are to call out one of their own for a holocaust that is occuring daily in our country with the murder of millions of innocent unborn children. Where are the US Bishops in pointing out the lack of moral support and defense of life from fellow bishops such as Bishop Lynch of Tampa St Pete? This is the same bishop who failed to stand up to protect the innocent life of Terri Schiavo in 2005 and who now appears to be purposely burying his head in the sand with regards to the Obama administration and pro abortion congress's attempt to pass the FOCA. Again it appears a lot of our bishops are eitehr purposely negligent or confused in their priorities.

Published by: Jack
NY 02/04/2009 08:58 AM EST

The Bishops are more worried about other religions it seems. They should be encouraging and promoting the Extraordinary Form of the Latin Rite for their own fellow Catholics.

Published by: Tman
Grand Rapids MI USA 02/04/2009 08:27 AM EST

Good. No get this angry on abortion (51 million deaths) and start naming names here; or is that where the Bishops' resolve ends???

Published by: Thomas Tay
Singapore 02/03/2009 11:26 PM EST

Bishop Richard Williamson's comments in Canada were personal remarks made what he believes to be "historical fact" based on evidence he cited that only 200,000-300,000 Jews were killed by gas chambers. This disparity comes from what experts who studied the gas chambers and methods used say could not have executed as many as six million. Like many bishops with differing personal views, he may be at fault himself, but this has nothing to do with SSPX or the Holy Father's need for "oversight". Whether this seems "revisionist" or not, those interested should really study what these experts are saying without condemning them as "anti-semitic". Afterall, our fraternal and religious links with the Jewish people needs to be within our own Christological understanding and not be influenced by Zionist ideology which is not compatible with our eschatological beliefs.

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