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Cardinals Blast Pope on Holocaust Denier

Decision to re-instate bishop a 'disaster' says Germany's top cardinal

By Rob Quinn,  Newser Staff

Posted Feb 4, 2009 5:19 AM CST

(Newser) – Pope Benedict XIV's reinstatement of a Holocaust-denying bishop has received some unusually harsh criticism from within the church, the Guardian reports. Germany's top-ranking cardinal has labeled the decision "a disaster" and called for the Pope to apologize. Cardinal Walter Kasper, who oversees the Vatican's relations with Judaism, says the decision was badly handled and blames poor management in the church hierarchy.

"There wasn't enough talking with each other in the Vatican and there are no longer checks to see where problems could arise," Kasper, who is also German, told Vatican Radio. "I'm watching this debate with great concern."

Pope Benedict XVI's decision to lift the excommunication of Bishop Richard Williamson has been widely criticized both inside and outside the Catholic church.
Pope Benedict XVI's decision to lift the excommunication of Bishop Richard Williamson has been widely criticized both inside and outside the Catholic church.   (AP Photo/Osservatore Romano, HO)
Bishop Richard Williamson, seen here in a still from Swedish TV, says he believes the Nazis never killed any Jews in gas chambers.
Bishop Richard Williamson, seen here in a still from Swedish TV, says he believes the Nazis never killed any Jews in gas chambers.   (CBS)
German Cardinal Walter Kasper waves as he passes Swiss Guards. Kasper has sharply criticized the reinstatement of Bishop Richard Williamson.
German Cardinal Walter Kasper waves as he passes Swiss Guards. Kasper has sharply criticized the reinstatement of Bishop Richard Williamson.   (Getty Images)
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COMMENTS
Showing 1 of 1 comment
Guest
Feb 17, 2009 12:32 AM CST
Holocaust-Denying? The best way to verify the holocaust really was happen as also to verify how many people was actually Holocaust is simply go to scientific evidence and determine how much equipment and time is need to eliminate 6M peoples as also other factors and also the all 6M names have to be scientifically veryfy...
 

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