Politics | 02/27/2009 11:20 am

Holocaust-Denying Bishop 'Sorry' for Words, But Not Views

By The Staff at wowOwow.com

Bishop Richard Williamson may have apologized for vocalizing his views about the Holocaust, but he’s not yet taking back the controversial comments.

Williamson has been under international fire since his interview with a Swedish television station, in which he denied the Nazis’ use of gas chambers during the Holocaust. He also said only about 300,000 Jews died — not six million. But now that he’s been booted from Argentina over the remarks, Williamson’s turned contrite. Sort of …

"Because their consequences have been so heavy," Williamson said in his apology via Zenit, "I can truthfully say that I regret having made such remarks, and that if I had known beforehand the full harm and hurt to which they would give rise, especially to the Church, but also to survivors and relatives of victims of injustice under the Third Reich, I would not have made them." He stressed that he was only giving his opinion, based on evidence available 20 years ago.

"To all souls that took honest scandal from what I said, before God I apologize."

Not only did Williamson’s words fall short of what offended Jewish groups wanted to hear, but the Vatican itself is far from satisfied. In fact, it wants to see Williamson fully recant his position.

Williamson’s statement "does not seem to respect the conditions" set forth by the Vatican earlier this month when it ordered the bishop to, "in an absolutely unequivocal and public way, distance himself from his positions," said chief Vatican spokesman Father Federico Lombardi, reports Reuters.

We’re not really holding our breath waiting for his apology.

Read more about: Apology, Bishop, Germany, Holocaust, Jews, Nazis, News, Pope Benedict, Richard Williamson, Vatican, World

11 Reader Comments (so far…) Sign In or Register to comment

His apology reminds me of that of the New York Post in regard to the recent controversial cartoon they ran…. “If” what I said offended anyone, for that I am sorry.” That is not an apology. He is saying essentially, I meant what I said, it was my opinion that I expressed and what I believe. But if anyone hearing it was offended, that’s too bad you don’t like what I have to say. It’s so insulting. There really isn’t anything for him to say or do now, the world knows what is in his heart based on what he has revealed. Anything he were to say now in the attempt to do damage control is a moot cause. He’d be smart to simply find an anti-semitic (and sexist because his views on women are alarming) place to call home and live out the rest of his life there. That way he can sit around and espouse his bias and distorted views and live happily ever after.

By Belinda Joy on 02/27/2009 12:06 pm

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I’d like to show the "Bishop" the photograph album that I inherited from my mother. Next to the photos of almost all her relatives (and my father’s) are dates of birth and + signs for dates of death because they were murdered by the Nazis. Thanks to the internet, also, I have been able to trace, for example, my grandmother’s journey from her home to Terezin and then to the Lodz ghetto and Auschwitz. I have seen the record, kept by the Nazis, of my relatives’ deportations and deaths. Similar records exist for millions, as well as documentation of the construction of the gas chambers etc. and sad etc.

By Sam Mirando on 02/27/2009 12:29 pm

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Thank you, Sam..my sister also was able to trace a number of her husband’s relatives using the interactive site at the Holocaust Museum in DC.

This so called "person of the cloth" finds it easy to give Lip Service, but I do not sense any redemption on his part….

By Diana T on 02/27/2009 12:48 pm

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I say this guy is sick. Mentally sick!

By Grande Camper on 02/27/2009 1:02 pm

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It can be,for some, easier to believe that no one is capable of that kind of horror. The proof of Hitler’s systematic attempt to remove the Jewish nation from the face of the earth is too well documented to deny. A member of the Catholic hierarchy a Jesuit Irishman by the name of Hugh O’Flarrity was responsible for saving hundreds of Jews in Rome alone. The upshot was he also saved the family of his German nemisis Colonel Koeffler at Koeffler’s request once the Allies finally were able to free Rome. He was the only one to visit Koeffler in prison, wife and children having abandoned him. Don’t believe me get a copy of the movie The Scarlet and The Black starring Gregory Peck and Christopher Plummer. It’s a movie that’s "not over till it’s over". The bishop, in question, is making a mockery of himself and the members of the Catholic Faith who worked so courageously to save the Jewish nation in Europe

By Mary Utrup on 02/27/2009 8:17 pm

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I wonder how he rationalizes his view?

He must have something to back it up to make such statements when there is so much evidence to the contrary.

By JJ GB on 02/28/2009 12:41 pm

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This guy is nuts!

By Leslie G on 02/28/2009 12:46 pm

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He’s a stubborn lunatic, for sure.

I was curious as to how Williamson arrived at his conclusions. It appears that in the 80’s he researched the holocaust; the chief source of his beliefs stem from the writings of self-proclaimed "execution expert," Fred Leuchter, who theorized that Nazi gas chambers were technically impractical. [The theory has long since been debunked by many others.]

I understand Williamson will reconsider his belief once he receives and has read another book about the gas chambers, by Jean-Claude Pressac, called "Auschwitz: Technique and Operation of the Gas Chambers." Williamson is looking for one magic bullet to dispell the "holocaust myth." [The fool should know that all he has to do is look on the internet where the book resides. He’s just stalling.]

The man is a moral disgrace.

For details: link up to

http://scienceblogs.com/insolence/2009/02/bishop_richard_williamson_holocaust_deni.php

and then scroll about halfway down.

By Andrea Brandon on 02/28/2009 2:48 pm