Vatican spokesman says media is creating confusion over SSPX bishop

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Fr. Federico Lombardi

Rome, Italy, Sep 23, 2009 / 02:11 pm (CNA).- The director of the Holy See’s press office, Father Federico Lombardi, denied again today that Pope Benedict knew Bishop Richard Williamson held Holocaust diminishing beliefs before the Pontiff lifted the excommunication of the Pius X Society bishop. Such charges only “lead to creating confusion for no reason,” he said.

Responding to questions from journalists about a Swedish TV report scheduled to air Thursday night, the Vatican spokesman said today that there is “absolutely no basis for stating or insinuating that the Pope had been informed beforehand.”

Father Lombardi also noted that the statement by the Vatican Secretariat of State on February 4 “clearly denied” that the Pope was aware of the positions of the Lefebvrist bishop. He went on to explain that the statement categorically disassociated the Pope and the Catholic Church from any anti-Semitic position or denial of the Holocaust.

Moreover, he said, “the Pope’s letter to the bishops on March 10 put an end to the matter and there is no reason to revisit it.”

Benedict XVI, Father Lombardi said, “has explained the meaning of the lifting of the excommunication as a gesture in support of the unity of the Church and at the same time he has shown that the accusations about the lack of respect for the Jewish people are totally unfounded, and he has simply acknowledged the limits of Vatican communications both internally and externally.”

The Holy Father “has granted a new status to the Ecclesia Dei Commission (for dialogue with the Society of St. Pius X) in order to guarantee a better and more secure manner of proceeding” in issues related to relations with the followers of Archbishop Lefebvre, he added.

Therefore, “re-launching the Williamson case only leads to creating confusion for no reason,” Father Lombardi said.

Comments: 8

Subscriber comments:

Published by: elleblue
canada 09/24/2009 09:32 PM EST

I also believe that Liberals inside and outside the Church are behind all this nonsense and confusion. Catholics need to focus on what is important, our faith and prayer!

Published by: debbie
san jose, ca USA 09/24/2009 06:29 PM EST

TO ALL CHRISTIANS PLEASE HOLD ON TO YOUR TRADITIONAL FAITH. ALWAYS REMEMBER, THE LATIN MASS IS THE ONLY MASS THAT WAS ATTENDED BY THE SAINTS AND THEREFORE WE SHOULD RESPECT,PRESERVE,PRACTICE,PATRONIZE AND GIVE IMPORTANCE TO THIS SACRED MASS THAT WAS HANDED TO US FROM GENERATIONS TO GENERATIONS. IF YOU COULD ONLY GIVE YOURSELF A TRY TO ATTEND THIS MASS, YOU WILL SEE THE BEAUTY OF ITS SACREDNESS AND SOLEMNITY. DO NOT BE HARD ON YOURSELF JUST TRY IT AND ASK THE HOLY GHOST TO GRANT YOU THE GRACE OF EMBRACING THE SACREDNESS OF THE OLD TRADITION LATIN TRIDENTINE MASS.

Published by: Jeannice
Houston TX 09/24/2009 05:43 PM EST

Fr. Lombardi's response is truthful, gentle, and compassionate to those who attack Christ's Church. Christ promised to be with his Church always, until the end of time. He will not allow it to stray too far, too long. I agree with Francis in MA. We can feel it coming. Jesus is going sift his people and his Church. All on the side of Truth will hear his voice. As the Blessed Mother keeps saying, "The Holy Father will have much to suffer."

Published by: Helene Pineau
Ontario Canada 09/24/2009 03:23 PM EST

It seems like the secular media loves to create controversy where none exists, especially when it come to the Catholic Church and our beloved Pope. Thanks to Father Lombardi for speaking out.

Published by: RG
Wasilla, Ak, USA 09/24/2009 10:31 AM EST

Beautiful, level-headed response, Father Lombardi!

Published by: Fr Bill
Fernley, Nevada, USA 09/24/2009 09:04 AM EST

The media stance is always to present the Church as an elderly and rigid entity that makes mistakes and does not admit them. The media favors the rebel or the youngster who has new ideas and who is often ad odds with the parent or authority figure.

Published by: Francis
Wareham MA 09/24/2009 08:40 AM EST

The modernist liberals inside and outside of the Catholic Church are running scared. This is desperation on their part to try to derail the doctrinal talks between the SSPX and Rome. The last thing these people want is a return to Catholic Orthodoxy and tradition. Yet these liberals know that their way of thinking and doing things will eventually be replaced with a return to pre Vatican II Orthodoxy. It may not come in some of our life times, but it will come. Sadly, there will be alot of Catholic Martyrs in the process because the Jews, the Freemasons, the Protestants, the secular liberal media and the world will launch an all out attack on Christs' true Church. In the end though, Christ and his Catholic Church will be victorious.

Published by: Jack
NY 09/24/2009 07:37 AM EST

People who don't like Latin or the Traditional Latin Mass seem to always start an uproar or cause distractions when talks are about to take place withe the SSPX and the Holy See. The motive is most likely from a fear that the SSPX will be the force for the TLM being regularly offered throughout the Church. Traditions will most likely be restored in the Church and this gets the liberals upset because they view all of this as an affront to ecumenism and traditionalism is also an affront to their liberal agenda of being disobedient.

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