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SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 2009
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Pope to Reinstate Bishop Who Denies Holocaust

Hardliner rejected Vatican reforms for being too tolerant of other faiths

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(Newser) – Pope Benedict XVI is planning to welcome four rebel bishops excommunicated by his predecessor back to the Catholic Church, reports the Times of London. The ultra-conservative bishops reject the liberal reforms of the Second Vatican Council. One of them, Richard Williamson, openly endorses the anti-semitic tract Protocols of the Elders of Zion and believes the Holocaust never happened. The bishops were excommunicated for defying church authority.

"There was not one Jew killed by the gas chambers," Williamson told a Swedish TV station last week. "It was all lies, lies, lies!" The Pope is keen to bring the bishops and their 150,000 followers in the conservative Society of Piux X back into the fold, but the move is expected to ruin the church's efforts over the last 40 years to rebuild bridges with Judaism.

Pope Benedict XVI waves to faithful during his weekly general audience in the Paul VI hall at the Vatican this week.
Pope Benedict XVI waves to faithful during his weekly general audience in the Paul VI hall at the Vatican this week.   (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)
Pope Benedict XVI reacts after praying in front of a statue of Pope Pius XII during his pastoral visit at San Lorenzo Basilica in Rome late last year.
Pope Benedict XVI reacts after praying in front of a statue of Pope Pius XII during his pastoral visit at San Lorenzo Basilica in Rome late last year.   (AP Photo/L'Osservatore Romano, ho)
Pope Benedict XVI greets the faithful in St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican during an audience for members of the Neocatechumenal Way earlier this month.
Pope Benedict XVI greets the faithful in St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican during an audience for members of the Neocatechumenal Way earlier this month.   (AP Photo/Pier Paolo Cito)
Richard Williamson is seen in the streets of Rome, 2000. Williamson and three other bishops were excommunicated by Pope John Paul II immediately after they were consecrated by a rebel archbishop.
Richard Williamson is seen in the streets of Rome, 2000. Williamson and three other bishops were excommunicated by Pope John Paul II immediately after they were consecrated by a rebel archbishop.   (Wikipedia)
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4 comments
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boom
Jan 23, 09 6:31 AM CST
Meanwhile, my local priest is being vilified in the media and threatened with excommunication for letting the congregation speak blessings along with him. Interesting to know where the church's priorities really lie, Ratzinger's most of all. How can this do his "Hitler Youth" reputation any good? Reply
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Doctor_Zaius
Jan 23, 09 6:52 AM CST
Don't even get me started on the child molesting preists. Reply
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christine_m
Jan 23, 09 10:41 AM CST
People still pay attention to Holocaust deniers? Reinstating Williamson certainly runs counter to the apologies it has made in recent years regarding ignoring the Holocaust while it was occurring. Reply
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Newser001
Jan 23, 09 10:57 AM CST
More theocratic hypocracy... Reply
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