JEWISH LIGHT EDITORIAL

Last week we took strong exception with the reinstatement by Pope Benedict XVI of Bishop Richard Williamson, who had made outrageous statements denying that the gassing of millions of Jews occurred during the Holocaust.

That same week, the Vatican issued further statements indicating that Bishop (Richard) Williamson “must absolutely, unequivocally and publicly distance himself from his positions on the Shoah.” A strong statement was also issued by the Administrator of the St. Louis Archdiocese, printed below.

Fair’s fair. We condemned the revocation of Williamson’s excommunication. Now must we compliment the Catholic Church, the Vatican and Pope Benedict XVI for their courageous actions that could strongly mend Jewish-Catholic relations in the aftermath of the original decision.