Pope Benedict XVI's Noxious Rehabilitation of a Holocaust Denier

Like flat earthers, Holocaust deniers simply refuse to acknowledge reality. On being shown pictures taken from a satellite that showed the earth as a sphere, Samuel Shenton, the head of the Flat Earth Society, reportedly said, "It's easy to see how a photograph like that could fool the untrained eye." In a similar vein, British Bishop Richard Williamson, the renegade Roman Catholic cleric whose excommunication was recently lifted by Pope Benedict XVI, declared on Swedish television that, "I believe that the historical evidence is largely against, is hugely against six million Jews having been deliberately gassed in gas chambers as a deliberate policy of Adolf Hitler . . . . I believe there were no gas chambers." Williamson went on to say that he thought that "between two to three hundred thousand Jews perished in Nazi concentration camps but none of them by gas chambers." To the likes of Shenton and Williamson, facts and evidence do not matter.

While the flat earthers are, on the whole, benign kooks, Holocaust deniers are dangerous, generally combining their efforts to defend and whitewash Hitler, Nazism and the Third Reich with an obsessive, more often than not virulent anti-Semitism. In addition to his denial of the Holocaust, Williamson has endorsed the authenticity of the Protocols of the Elders of Zion, the notorious Russian Czarist forgery that purports to depict a Jewish conspiracy to rule the world, and has written publicly of "the false messianic vocation of Jewish world-dominion, to prepare the Anti-Christ's throne in Jerusalem."

Pope Benedict's decision to bring Williamson back into the Roman Catholic fold has met with a firestorm of criticism. Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Elie Wiesel, a survivor of the Nazi concentration camps of Auschwitz and Buchenwald, said that Pope Benedict's rehabilitation of Williamson gives credence to "the most vulgar aspect of anti-Semitism." While American Roman Catholic cardinals and bishops have been reluctant to criticize the Pope, some of their European counterparts have been far less reticent. Cardinal Christoph Schoenborn, the Archbishop of Vienna, sharply criticized the lifting of Williamson's excommunication, declaring that "he who denies the Holocaust cannot be rehabilitated within the Church." Ad van Luyn, the Bishop of Rotterdam and chair of the Dutch Roman Catholic Bishops' Conference, called the decision "disastrous." Archbishop Reinhard Marx of Munich said that "Every denial of the Holocaust must be punished harshly." And the Archbishop of Hamburg, Werner Thissen, told a German newspaper that "There is obviously a loss of confidence" in the Pope, and that "rehabilitating a denier is always a bad idea."

To be sure, Pope Benedict has sought to distance himself from Williamson's views, albeit without directly criticizing the Holocaust denying cleric, by saying that "I wish that the memory of the Shoah will prompt humanity to reflect on the unpredictable power of evil when it conquers the hearts of men. May the Shoah be a warning for all against forgetting, denial and reductionism." This Papal pronouncement does not, however, undo the damage caused by Williamson's legitimation.

A little more than two years ago, in December 2006, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad convened an international pseudo-academic conference in Tehran entitled "International Conference on 'Review of the Holocaust: Global Vision'," with the participation of such luminaries as David Duke, the erstwhile Imperial Wizard of the Ku Klux Klan, Robert Faurisson, a former professor of literature at the University of Lyon who, like Williamson, claims that the Germans did not use gas chambers to annihilate European Jewry, and Australian socialite Michele Renouf, who explained that anti-Semitism is caused by "the anti-gentile nature of Judaism." For two days, they and other likeminded sociopaths "debated" at the Iranian Foreign Ministry whether or not my grandparents and my five-and-a-half-year-old brother were gassed at Auschwitz.

Why do Williamson's rehabilitation and the 2006 Tehran conference have ominous significance? Because Duke, who managed to get 43 percent of the vote in his unsuccessful 1990 U.S. Senate campaign from Louisiana, is now able to tell students at colleges in heartland America with a straight face that his contention that there were never any gas chambers has international academic and institutional support, and because Holocaust deniers across the globe will interpret Williamson's return into polite Roman Catholic society as a victory for their cause.

Holocaust denial is a pernicious strain of anti-Semitism, and Pope Benedict's ill-conceived embrace of Bishop Williamson sends a clear message that anti-Semites are welcome within the Roman Catholic Church. As my friend Deborah Lipstadt, the Dorot Professor of Modern Jewish and Holocaust Studies and director of the Institute for Jewish Studies at Emory University, explains, Holocaust denial

"has no purpose but to inculcate contempt for Jews. According to deniers Jews use the Holocaust to win the world's sympathy and, in the course of so doing, win reparations from Germany and political support for Israel. Such a charge, based as it is the imagery of money and political manipulation, hearkens back to traditional antisemitic stereotypes. Why a pope would want to give support to such a movement is baffling. More baffling, however, is why a pope would want to associate the Vatican with someone who preaches lies and manipulations of history."

What can Pope Benedict and the Roman Catholic leadership do now to at least mitigate some of the appalling fallout from the Williamson debacle? They must not only publicly and unambiguously repudiate and disavow Bishop Williamson's heinous views, something the Pope has yet to do, but they should make Holocaust education a required part of the curricula of all Roman Catholic seminaries, universities and schools throughout the world. By affirmatively committing themselves to serious and comprehensive Holocaust education, they can demonstrate that the Vatican is serious about improving Jewish-Catholic relations.

Menachem Rosensaft, a lawyer in New York City, is the Founding Chairman of the International Network of Children of Jewish Holocaust Survivors

Comments

[S1m0n]

I'm no fan of the nazi pope or of Williamson, nor am I catholic, but holocaust denial isn't an excommunic­ation-wort­hy sin. In Catholic doctrine, death while under ex-communication (expulsion from community with God and the church) means damnation.

The church also has a firm definition of what it means to be in communion with the Church and with God. Holocaust orthodoxy is not among those requirements, nor should it be. The church has contained worse men and worse sinners; it's mechanism for addressing those sins is the confessional, and ultimately Judgement.

[davefoc]

I'm not a believer, I'm not Catholic, I'm not Jewish and I'm not a holocaust denier in any sense of the word but Simon's post struck me as particularly worthy of note.

It was his understanding that a false view on the subject of the holocaust was not an offense that the Catholic Church would normally excommunicate a person for. That seems right to me.

It seems that there is no reason to believe that because the pope chooses to undo the ex-communication of this priest that the Pope is sympathetic or supportive of holocaust denier views.

Not unexpectedly, people will condemn the Pope for this action, but it looks like they may not be correct to do so. The Pope's action seem to be consistent with Catholic policies and they do not indicate any kind of Catholic or this particular Pope's support of Holocaust denier views.

Anti-semitism has been part of Christian doctrine in the past and anti-Semitism is a thread that runs through the founding and rise of Christianity and it is reasonable for people to be skeptical of any modern actions that suggest Catholic anti-Semitism. I think, however, this situation is not evidence to support the notion of an anti-Semitic pope or a rise in anti-Semitism of the Catholic church.

[UpperWest]

If that is the case, then Catholic doctrine is severely flawed, and the Pope, if anyone, has or should have the power to change it. If that cannot be done, there is something seriously wrong with a religion that does not sanction such heinous views.

And isn't the issue not just excommunication, but reinstatement as a bishop? Surely the Pope has discretion over that. Even if he cannot be excommunicated for these beliefs, what right does he have to serve as a bishop?

[davefoc]

That seems like a fair point UpperWest. I hadn't thought about the idea that the guy was a bishop when I wrote my post. Certainly it seems like promoting an idea like Holocaust denial should be reason enough to disqualify somebody as a bishop.

[MagisterLudi]

Ergon posted:" there were no 'chambers' in Dachau."

Aren't you ashamed. Even alittle bit?

Which ehhh, historical source did you derive this pearl of wisdom from? No need to guess. It is obvious.

http://z.about.com/d/studenttravel/1/0/S/A/oven_dachau_ef_06.jpg
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/15/69136519_f6ab66fe89.jpg?v=0
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Dachau_Krematorium.jpg

"Unlike Auschwitz, where the Gas Chamber and the Crematorium were demolished by the retreating SS, the destruction of this horrifying evidence at Dachau was prevented when doughboys discovered and severed the wire which would have set off the charge. "
Sergeant Scott Corbett, 42nd Division newspaper (1945)

[Raster]

This pope is also "ultra-con­servative" (to be charitable), so he "re-communicated" the 6 "ultra-con­servative" Bishops. Completely natural and to be expected.

[woody1291]

Why should anyone be surprised by anything the Catholic Church does? They have used young boys for their sexual pleasure for ages and covered up the priests who perpetrated these vile acts. Now to all you Catholics I am not lumping you all into the horrible things the Catholic Church has done over the last many years but do think you should do some research on these things and find that this is not a religion you would want to belong to. And remember the Pope is considered infallible. Makes one wonder doesn't it?

[aemathisphd]

OK, big error here.

The Pope is not considered infallible. The Pope is ONLY considered infallible in these cases:

(1) He must be seated on the Throne of St. Peter (i.e., he must speaking "ex cathedra")
(2) He must be speaking on issues of faith or morals
(3) He must specifically evoke his infallibility.

Papal infallibility has been evoked exactly TWICE: By Pius IX on the doctrine of Immaculate Conception and by Pius XII on the doctrine of the Assumption of the Blessed Mother.

[Bibbo]

Woody
The whole abuse issue is a stain on the Church that has caused and is still causing untold suffering for many innocents. The problem(in my opinion) has been a weak and cowardly episcopate that was more concerned with wordly matters than the Gospel. Welcome to what it means to live in a "fallen world" where it can appear that evil wins. It helps to remember what happened to Jesus. He also was an innocent that suffered at the hands of the religious big shots who behaved in a weak and cowardly manner. Likewise for Sir Thomas Moore. Its times like these where Faith is superior to human intellect(a fallen intellect infact) to see though noise and confusion of the moment and not lose sight of what is right and wrong to believe. I believe we have had in John Paul on of our greatest popes and I belive Benedict is cut from the same cloth.

[wellesley46]

You need to do your own research. The Pope isn't "infallible". There are very rare occasions that the Pope can speak on certain theological issues "infallibly". This is not one of those times. There is plenty wrong with the Church, that is for sure. But over two thousand years, its done more good than bad.

[8aphrodite]

As long as Israel deniying "Gaza-gheto like Nazi TReatment"­.......the­re will many more anti and holocaust denial....­......let'­s see.......­.

[TXfemmom]

I don't understand how anyone can remain a practicing Catholic when the Church selects someone like this Pope to his office, and the Church demands that he is infallible. This man has no sensitivity, and was the numero uno honcho who protected, coddled, hid, shifted, and assisted the pedophile priests and deviants within the ranks for the last Pope. He, undoubtedly, black-mailed his way into the position because he knew everyone's dirty linen, but better to reveal your dirty linen than to put someone so diseased of mind and spirit in such a position.

[Bibbo]

Its factually incorrect to say the Pope protected pediophile priests. It is correct to accuse many of the Bishops of this crime. Please be careful before you make up your mind as to what actually occured. Most of the abuse was of teenagers and was homosexual in nature. A root cause was at the seminary level and vetting process in admission to the seminaries. The wrong candidates were admitted and the teaching in the seminaries was poor. Seminaries then graduated poorly formed priests not qualified or suited to the demands of the priesthood. The homosexual orientation itself is not an automatic disqualifier for the priesthood BUT if a young man is not in agreement that the orientation is "disordered" he is not fit for the priesthood. There is no shame or guilt at all in simply having the homosexual orientation. What matters is the candidates attitude towards the orientation. We all are born with disorded wants(conc­upiscence) by virtue of original sin. Different people have different innate disorders. Substance abuse,gambling problems and the like are all similar weaknesses that we can thank Adam and Eve for passing on to us. This is a subject that needs to be taught. We have no responsibility for the weakness but only for how we deal with it.

[wellesley46]

Another one? The Pope is not "infallible". Very occasionally, the Pope can speak "infallibly" on certain theological issues, but it is done rarely, the last time being around 1910. I can remain a practicing Catholic because I am intelligent enough to know that simply because evil men and women exist in the Church, it doesn't make the whole entity flawed. And by the way, if you notice where most of the sexual abuse took place, it was right here in the good old US of A where the LOCAL hierarchy had responsibility, not the Pope.

[sahinkarakaya]

Denial of any crime against humanity is and should be considered a crime. Having said that why is Israel denying the Armenian Genocide?

[MagisterLudi]

Now for facts:
"Israeli Parliament (the Knesset) appoints a committee to discuss the Armenian genocide that occurred during World War I.
Te decision was based on a bill proposal made by Meretz-Yahad Chairman Chaim Oron. Eleven Knesset members voted in favor of the proposal, none opposed or abstaine

"Turkey blames Israel for the passage by the U.S. House International Relations Committee of the Armenian genocide resolution".

Turkish Foreign Minister Ali Babacan reportedly told Israeli President Shimon Peres that Turkey held Israel partly responsible for the passage of the Armenian genocide resolution in U.S. Congress."

[scrappina]

I'm a decent, thoughtful person who is appalled and sickened at Pope Benedict's actions regarding Williamson, and indeed, all his fellow anti-semitic rehabilitated "bishops." I am also, however, a practicing Roman Catholic. There really are some of us who are not worthy of your disgust. It bothers me to see the kinds of vicious, lumping-ev­eryone-of-­a-certain-­faith together comments about Catholics in these posts that, were they about any other religion, would cause an uproar. Apparently, Catholics are the only group left in our PC world whom it's correct to to openly revile. When broad-brush hate is directed against any group, I worry about who will next be rounded up. Do we Catholics not bleed?

[Democrab]

Thanks Scrappina

[wellesley46]

Agreed. And if people do their homework, they'll learn that this Pope's has worked throughout his career in trying to unify various "disenfranchised" groups within the Catholic Church. And though this might upset some Jewish groups, that should be his focus. Having said that, he is demanding a complete renunciation from Bishop Williamson before he is accepted back into the Church. And while we're at it, who had heard of Williamson's crazy talk before this all happened? If you read media outlets, it's as if this guy was another David Duke, yet the most quoted event I've seen was the one Williamson gave to Swedish TV in December 2008! That was less than 2 months ago! It's not like this guys was well known. It's not minimize Williamson's insanity, I simply make the suggestion it is POSSIBLE that Pope moved to remove the excommunication without knowing just how crazy this guy is.

[mudshark12]

A holocaust denier IS the lowest form of life that exists!

[Chip W]

Human beings are not very good at distinguishing between what is a product of our minds and what is not.

[MagisterLudi]

You mean MOST human beings.
People with training in analysis and scientific method are very good at it.

[MarionWatts]

Well, I've visited Dachau and seen the chambers. I've seen the ovens. I also live in Europe and in recent years, I've seen a disturbing rise in subtle anti-Semitism across Western Europe, which started to make itself more open in the wake of 9/11. For all the abject denial of this Catholic and the reticence of the Pope, it's as well not to lose sight of the more subtler brand of anti-Semitism, which is seldom, if ever, reported in the media here.

[Ergon]

I think the museum in Washington has a gas chamber door, but, if that's what you were referring to, there were no 'chambers' in Dachau. Read 'The destruction of Europe's Jews'.

[maab76]

The new museum in Skokie, Illinois opened recently in larger, new quarters. I have not had the opportunity to visit their enlarged displays. I do expect it to be very inclusive and would recommend visiting it if you are ever near Chicago. It is easily accessed from the Edens Expressway in the northern suburb of Skokie.
Since an illustrious relative prepared the briefs for Nurenburg, I would expect them to be available for public scrutiny. Given his own photographic skills, there should be generous photographs of the facilities he visited in preparing the evidence. Ask to see it through freedom of information.
Pope Benedict has opened a kettle of vipers with this pronouncement. It makes one wonder if he, too, is a denier. Do remember his civilian name and his German experiences and church postings.

[MagisterLudi]

http://z.about.com/d/studenttravel/1/0/S/A/oven_dachau_ef_06.jpg
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/15/69136519_f6ab66fe89.jpg?v=0
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Dachau_Krematorium.jpg

[wellesley46]

What "abject denial" and "reticence" are you talking about? I must be completely lost. The Pope has demanded a complete renunciation of Williamson's assertions and his acceptance of the Catholic church teaching of the actual evil on earth embodied in the Holocaust and that there can be no forgetting, denial or reductionism of the Holocaust. Nothing could be more simple or clear.

[mcthfg]

You keep missing the point.

Catholics, by the very definition of Catholic, have to think that Jews are wrong. And not only wrong, but "going to hell" wrong. Jews, by the very nature of Judaism, have to think Christians are wrong. There can NEVER be any middle ground. This is ultimate truth here, not some namby-pamby feel good session.

Hell, the Catholics even picked a guy that looks like the emperor from the Star Wars movies.

Now, if we all grew up and stopped believing in and killing for myths, the world would be a much better place.

[Ergon]

While I believe in personal philosophies and not religions, it's ridiculous to blame all the ills of humanity on religions. The fault lies in us, and the arrogance to believe that our needs trump every one else's. Atheistic communism killed more people than any other, and all religions have a core of truth and humanity that can't be surpassed by human new ageism.

[closed]

"it's ridiculous to blame all the ills of humanity on religions.­"

No, I'd say it's a pretty spot-on assessment. Just think of what human beings could have accomplished by now if so many of them weren't wasting their time praying and carrying out a whole bunch of very stupid things for their 'gods'! We might as well still live in caves...

[Ergon]

While my Liberal Heart disagreed with the Pope when he made his ill timed remarks about Muslims and their lack of 'civilisation' I felt he had the right as the supreme pontiff of his church to do so.
If he chooses to reinstate some cardinals who disagreed with the church on matters of doctrine, then again, he has the right to do so, without requesting permission of any one else, nor should it be expected that he provide seminars on the accepted version of history.
So if you have a problem with the cardinal's personal views you can always have him extradited to Germany or shanghai him to Israel, where 'holocaust denial's' a state crime or some such.

[Synoia]

Let's desicuss current actions in Lebanon, gaza & the West Bank Bantustans before going over a what a person says, please.

The actions are orders of magnitude worse than the words of one person.

[kerpin]

the words of one person lead to the death of millions.
ignorance is bliss, isn't it?

[Dukedraven]

In order to keep holocaust deniers from spreading more lies and anti-Semtism, we need to supply pressure to the guilty parties. Heat should be given to Duke, the Vatican, Williamson, and others, who perpetuate these harmful myths. That's only way to shut them up.

[smiz]

Seems that a few more people than only 6 million jews were killed in the holocauste, What about the 10 million Catholics, protestants, athiests, gypsies, homosexuals who were also killed??? I feel that someone may be taking Williamson's remarks out of context.