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'''Richard Nelson Williamson''' (born 8 March 1940) is an English [[traditionalist Catholic]] [[Bishop (Catholicism)|bishop]] who opposes the changes in the Catholic Church brought about by the [[Second Vatican Council]]. He was originally a member of the [[Society of St. Pius X]] (SSPX), but was expelled from the SSPX in 2012.
'''Richard Nelson Williamson''' (born 8 March 1940) is an English [[traditionalist Catholic]] [[Bishop (Catholicism)|bishop]] who opposes the changes in the Catholic Church brought about by the [[Second Vatican Council]]. He was originally a member of the [[Society of St. Pius X]] (SSPX), but was expelled from the SSPX in 2012.


In 1988, Williamson was one of four SSPX priests who were illicitly [[Ecône Consecrations|ordained]] as bishops by [[Marcel Lefebvre|Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre]], for which they incurred ipso facto [[automatic excommunication]].<ref name=ecclesia>[http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/john_paul_ii/motu_proprio/documents/hf_jp-ii_motu-proprio_02071988_ecclesia-dei_en.html Apostolic Letter 'Ecclesia Dei']</ref> The validity of the excommunication is disputed by the SSPX who say that the ordinations were necessary due to a crisis in the Catholic Church.<ref>[http://www.sspx.org/1988%20Consecration%20articles/1988_consecrations_theological_I.htm The 1988 consecrations: a theological study (July & September 1999). Sì sì no no via SSPX.org. Accessed 2008-01-01]{{dead link|date=November 2015}}</ref><ref>[http://www.sspx.org/1988%20Consecration%20articles/1988_consecrations_canonical_I.htm The 1988 consecrations: a canonical study (November 1999). Sì sì no no via SSPX.org. Accessed 2008-01-01]</ref> The excommunications, including that of Williamson, were lifted on 21 January 2009, but the suspension of the bishops from the exercise of ministry within the Catholic Church remained in force.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://chiesa.espresso.repubblica.it/articolo/214086?eng=y |title=No More Excommunication for the Lefebvrists. But Peace Is Still Far Off|last=Magister |first=Sandro |date=28 January 2009|accessdate=17 October 2013}}</ref>
In 1988, Williamson was one of four SSPX priests who were illicitly [[Ecône Consecrations|ordained]] as bishops by [[Marcel Lefebvre|Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre]], for which they incurred ipso facto [[automatic excommunication]].<ref name=ecclesia>[http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/john_paul_ii/motu_proprio/documents/hf_jp-ii_motu-proprio_02071988_ecclesia-dei_en.html Apostolic Letter 'Ecclesia Dei']</ref> The validity of the excommunication is disputed by the SSPX who say that the ordinations were necessary due to a crisis in the Catholic Church.<ref>[http://www.sspx.org/1988%20Consecration%20articles/1988_consecrations_theological_I.htm The 1988 consecrations: a theological study (July & September 1999). Sì sì no no via SSPX.org. Accessed 2008-01-01] {{wayback|url=http://www.sspx.org/1988%20Consecration%20articles/1988_consecrations_theological_I.htm |date=20110817115514 |df=y }}</ref><ref>[http://www.sspx.org/1988%20Consecration%20articles/1988_consecrations_canonical_I.htm The 1988 consecrations: a canonical study (November 1999). Sì sì no no via SSPX.org. Accessed 2008-01-01]</ref> The excommunications, including that of Williamson, were lifted on 21 January 2009, but the suspension of the bishops from the exercise of ministry within the Catholic Church remained in force.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://chiesa.espresso.repubblica.it/articolo/214086?eng=y |title=No More Excommunication for the Lefebvrists. But Peace Is Still Far Off|last=Magister |first=Sandro |date=28 January 2009|accessdate=17 October 2013}}</ref>


Immediately afterwards, Swedish television broadcast an interview recorded earlier at the SSPX's Seminary in [[Schierling|Zaitzkofen]], [[Bavaria]]. During the interview, Williamson had expressed a belief that [[Nazi Germany]] did not use [[gas chambers]] during the [[Holocaust]] and that a total of between 200,000 and 300,000 Jews were killed. Based upon these statements, the Bishop was immediately charged with and convicted of [[Holocaust denial]] by a German court. The Holy See declared Pope Benedict had been unaware of Williamson's views when he lifted the excommunication of the four bishops, and that Williamson would remain suspended from his episcopal functions until he unequivocally and publicly distances himself from his position on the [[Holocaust]].<ref name=Magister>{{cite news|url=http://chiesa.espresso.repubblica.it/articolo/214368?eng=y |title=Double Disaster at the Vatican: Of Governance, and of Communication|author=Magister |first=Sandro |date=4 February 2009|accessdate=17 October 2013}}</ref><ref name="Owen">{{cite news|url=http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/faith/article2100140.ece|title=Pope insists Bishop Richard Williamson must renounce Holocaust denial|last=Owen|first=Richard |author2=Gledhill, Ruth |date=5 February 2009|accessdate=2009-09-12 | work=The Times | location=London}} {{dead link|date=October 2013}}</ref> In 2010 he was convicted of incitement in a German court in relation to those views; the conviction was later vacated on appeal<ref name="abendblatt.de">[http://www.abendblatt.de/politik/article2194458/Prozess-von-Holocaust-Leugner-muss-neu-aufgerollt-werden.html Hamburger Abendblatt, 22 February 2012]</ref> but then reinstated on retrial in early 2013.<ref>[http://www.haaretz.com/jewish-world/jewish-world-news/german-court-convicts-british-holocaust-denying-bishop-1.494439 "German court convicts British Holocaust-denying bishop"], ''Haaretz''/Associated Press, 16 January 2013</ref> He appealed again,<ref name="Fourth Trial">[http://eleisonkommentar.blogspot.ie/2013/02/ec-291-vierter-proze.html Fourth Trial]</ref> but his appeal was rejected.<ref name=AFP>{{cite news|url=http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/afp/130923/german-court-quashes-appeal-holocaust-denying-bishop |title=German court quashes appeal by Holocaust-denying bishop|date=23 September 2013|accessdate=17 October 2013}}</ref>
Immediately afterwards, Swedish television broadcast an interview recorded earlier at the SSPX's Seminary in [[Schierling|Zaitzkofen]], [[Bavaria]]. During the interview, Williamson had expressed a belief that [[Nazi Germany]] did not use [[gas chambers]] during the [[Holocaust]] and that a total of between 200,000 and 300,000 Jews were killed. Based upon these statements, the Bishop was immediately charged with and convicted of [[Holocaust denial]] by a German court. The Holy See declared Pope Benedict had been unaware of Williamson's views when he lifted the excommunication of the four bishops, and that Williamson would remain suspended from his episcopal functions until he unequivocally and publicly distances himself from his position on the [[Holocaust]].<ref name=Magister>{{cite news|url=http://chiesa.espresso.repubblica.it/articolo/214368?eng=y |title=Double Disaster at the Vatican: Of Governance, and of Communication|author=Magister |first=Sandro |date=4 February 2009|accessdate=17 October 2013}}</ref><ref name="Owen">{{cite news|url=http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/faith/article2100140.ece|title=Pope insists Bishop Richard Williamson must renounce Holocaust denial|last=Owen|first=Richard |author2=Gledhill, Ruth |date=5 February 2009|accessdate=2009-09-12 | work=The Times | location=London}} {{dead link|date=October 2013}}</ref> In 2010 he was convicted of incitement in a German court in relation to those views; the conviction was later vacated on appeal<ref name="abendblatt.de">[http://www.abendblatt.de/politik/article2194458/Prozess-von-Holocaust-Leugner-muss-neu-aufgerollt-werden.html Hamburger Abendblatt, 22 February 2012]</ref> but then reinstated on retrial in early 2013.<ref>[http://www.haaretz.com/jewish-world/jewish-world-news/german-court-convicts-british-holocaust-denying-bishop-1.494439 "German court convicts British Holocaust-denying bishop"], ''Haaretz''/Associated Press, 16 January 2013</ref> He appealed again,<ref name="Fourth Trial">[http://eleisonkommentar.blogspot.ie/2013/02/ec-291-vierter-proze.html Fourth Trial]</ref> but his appeal was rejected.<ref name=AFP>{{cite news|url=http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/afp/130923/german-court-quashes-appeal-holocaust-denying-bishop |title=German court quashes appeal by Holocaust-denying bishop|date=23 September 2013|accessdate=17 October 2013}}</ref>
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Williamson holds strong views regarding [[gender role]]s and dress. He opposes women wearing trousers or shorts,<ref name="pib">{{cite news|title=Paranoia Is Becoming An Article of Faith In a Tiny Kansas Town – A Split Among Its Catholics Is as Much About Suspicion As It Is About Doctrine|last=Farney|first=Dennis |date=23 August 1995|publisher=The Wall Street Journal|accessdate=2008-08-09}}</ref><ref name="Mary">{{cite news|title=Catholic right over 'sect'|last=Papadakis|first=Mary|date=14 July 2002|publisher=Sunday Herald Sun|accessdate=2008-08-01}}</ref><ref name="bhr" /> attending college or university, or having a career,<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/7869565.stm |title= Profile: Bishop Richard Williamson |work=BBC NEWS |accessdate=2009-09-12|date=4 February 2009|quote=A woman can do a good imitation of handling ideas, but then she will not be thinking properly as a woman. Did this lawyeress check her hairdo before coming into court? If she did, she is a distracted lawyer. If she did not, she is one distorted woman. | first=Robert | last=Pigott}}</ref><ref>http://web.archive.org/web/20071102091508/www.sspx.ca/Documents/Bishop-Williamson/September1-2001.htm</ref> and has urged greater "manliness" in men.<ref name="Mary" /><ref name="bhr">{{cite news|title=Bishop's homily ranges from Columbus to 'JFK' |date=28 March 1992|publisher=The Salt Lake Tribune|pages=A12|accessdate=2008-08-09}}</ref>
Williamson holds strong views regarding [[gender role]]s and dress. He opposes women wearing trousers or shorts,<ref name="pib">{{cite news|title=Paranoia Is Becoming An Article of Faith In a Tiny Kansas Town – A Split Among Its Catholics Is as Much About Suspicion As It Is About Doctrine|last=Farney|first=Dennis |date=23 August 1995|publisher=The Wall Street Journal|accessdate=2008-08-09}}</ref><ref name="Mary">{{cite news|title=Catholic right over 'sect'|last=Papadakis|first=Mary|date=14 July 2002|publisher=Sunday Herald Sun|accessdate=2008-08-01}}</ref><ref name="bhr" /> attending college or university, or having a career,<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/7869565.stm |title= Profile: Bishop Richard Williamson |work=BBC NEWS |accessdate=2009-09-12|date=4 February 2009|quote=A woman can do a good imitation of handling ideas, but then she will not be thinking properly as a woman. Did this lawyeress check her hairdo before coming into court? If she did, she is a distracted lawyer. If she did not, she is one distorted woman. | first=Robert | last=Pigott}}</ref><ref>http://web.archive.org/web/20071102091508/www.sspx.ca/Documents/Bishop-Williamson/September1-2001.htm</ref> and has urged greater "manliness" in men.<ref name="Mary" /><ref name="bhr">{{cite news|title=Bishop's homily ranges from Columbus to 'JFK' |date=28 March 1992|publisher=The Salt Lake Tribune|pages=A12|accessdate=2008-08-09}}</ref>


He supports authoritarian parenting style, denouncing the film ''[[The Sound of Music (film)|The Sound of Music]]'' as "soul-rotting slush" and saying that, by putting "friendliness and fun in the place of authority and rules, it invites disorder between parents and children."<ref name="Levy" /><ref>{{cite web |author= Bess Twiston Davies| url=http://timesonline.typepad.com/faith/2009/02/index.html |title=Bishop Williamson, shrinks, and The Sound of Music|work=Timesonline|accessdate=2009-09-12|date=26 February 2009 }} {{Dead link|date=October 2010|bot=H3llBot}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |author= Williamson, Richard| url=http://www.sspxseminary.org/publications/letter/1997/November/ |title=Letter to Friends & Benefactors – November 1997 |publisher=www.sspxseminary.org |accessdate=2009-09-12 }} {{Dead link|date=September 2010|bot=H3llBot}}</ref>
He supports authoritarian parenting style, denouncing the film ''[[The Sound of Music (film)|The Sound of Music]]'' as "soul-rotting slush" and saying that, by putting "friendliness and fun in the place of authority and rules, it invites disorder between parents and children."<ref name="Levy" /><ref>{{cite web|author=Bess Twiston Davies |url=http://timesonline.typepad.com/faith/2009/02/index.html |title=Bishop Williamson, shrinks, and The Sound of Music |work=Timesonline |accessdate=2009-09-12 |date=26 February 2009 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/20090722172622/http://timesonline.typepad.com:80/faith/2009/02/index.html |archivedate=22 July 2009 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |author= Williamson, Richard| url=http://www.sspxseminary.org/publications/letter/1997/November/ |title=Letter to Friends & Benefactors – November 1997 |publisher=www.sspxseminary.org |accessdate=2009-09-12 }} {{Dead link|date=September 2010|bot=H3llBot}}</ref>


Williamson supports conspiracy theories regarding the [[assassination of President Kennedy]], and the [[World Trade Center controlled demolition conspiracy theory]], denying that the latter were terrorist attacks but were instead staged by the U.S. government.<ref name="Herald" /><ref name="bhr" /><ref>{{Cite web | last = Koch | first = Einar | title = Bishop Williamson's mad conspiracy theories | accessdate = 2009-06-08 | url = http://www.bild.de/BILD/news/bild-english/world-news/2009/02/04/bishop-williamson-holocaust-9-11-conspiracy-theories/why-did-pope-benedict-rehabilitate-this-madman.html }}</ref> He has also said that the [[7 July 2005 London bombings]] were an "inside job" and propagated rumours about the likelihood of a [[nuclear attack]] on the [[2012 Summer Olympics|London Olympics]] in 2012.<ref>{{Cite news | last = Coppen | first = Luke | title = Morning Catholic must-reads: 26/07/12 | accessdate = 2012-07-26 | url = http://www.catholicherald.co.uk/commentandblogs/2012/07/26/morning-catholic-must-reads-260712/ }}</ref>
Williamson supports conspiracy theories regarding the [[assassination of President Kennedy]], and the [[World Trade Center controlled demolition conspiracy theory]], denying that the latter were terrorist attacks but were instead staged by the U.S. government.<ref name="Herald" /><ref name="bhr" /><ref>{{Cite web | last = Koch | first = Einar | title = Bishop Williamson's mad conspiracy theories | accessdate = 2009-06-08 | url = http://www.bild.de/BILD/news/bild-english/world-news/2009/02/04/bishop-williamson-holocaust-9-11-conspiracy-theories/why-did-pope-benedict-rehabilitate-this-madman.html }}</ref> He has also said that the [[7 July 2005 London bombings]] were an "inside job" and propagated rumours about the likelihood of a [[nuclear attack]] on the [[2012 Summer Olympics|London Olympics]] in 2012.<ref>{{Cite news | last = Coppen | first = Luke | title = Morning Catholic must-reads: 26/07/12 | accessdate = 2012-07-26 | url = http://www.catholicherald.co.uk/commentandblogs/2012/07/26/morning-catholic-must-reads-260712/ }}</ref>

Revision as of 09:17, 6 January 2016

Richard Williamson
Bishop
Richard Williamson (1991)
Installed30 June 1988
Term ended24 October 2012
Orders
Ordination29 June 1976
by Marcel Lefebvre
Consecration30 June 1988
by Marcel Lefebvre
Personal details
Born (1940-03-08) 8 March 1940 (age 84)
Buckinghamshire, United Kingdom
Mottofidelis inveniatur
Coat of armsRichard Williamson's coat of arms
Ordination history of
Richard Williamson
History
Priestly ordination
Ordained byMarcel Lefebvre (SSPX)
Date29 June 1976
PlaceThe International Seminary of Saint Pius X, Écône, Switzerland
Episcopal consecration
Consecrated byMarcel Lefebvre (SSPX)
Date30 June 1988
PlaceThe International Seminary of Saint Pius X, Écône, Switzerland

Richard Nelson Williamson (born 8 March 1940) is an English traditionalist Catholic bishop who opposes the changes in the Catholic Church brought about by the Second Vatican Council. He was originally a member of the Society of St. Pius X (SSPX), but was expelled from the SSPX in 2012.

In 1988, Williamson was one of four SSPX priests who were illicitly ordained as bishops by Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre, for which they incurred ipso facto automatic excommunication.[1] The validity of the excommunication is disputed by the SSPX who say that the ordinations were necessary due to a crisis in the Catholic Church.[2][3] The excommunications, including that of Williamson, were lifted on 21 January 2009, but the suspension of the bishops from the exercise of ministry within the Catholic Church remained in force.[4]

Immediately afterwards, Swedish television broadcast an interview recorded earlier at the SSPX's Seminary in Zaitzkofen, Bavaria. During the interview, Williamson had expressed a belief that Nazi Germany did not use gas chambers during the Holocaust and that a total of between 200,000 and 300,000 Jews were killed. Based upon these statements, the Bishop was immediately charged with and convicted of Holocaust denial by a German court. The Holy See declared Pope Benedict had been unaware of Williamson's views when he lifted the excommunication of the four bishops, and that Williamson would remain suspended from his episcopal functions until he unequivocally and publicly distances himself from his position on the Holocaust.[5][6] In 2010 he was convicted of incitement in a German court in relation to those views; the conviction was later vacated on appeal[7] but then reinstated on retrial in early 2013.[8] He appealed again,[9] but his appeal was rejected.[10]

After a number of incidents, including calling for the deposition of Bernard Fellay as the Superior General of the Society of St. Pius X, his refusal to stop publishing his weekly email and an unauthorised visitation to Brazil, Williamson was expelled from the Society.[11]

Early life

Williamson was born in Buckinghamshire, England,[12] the middle son of a Marks and Spencers buyer and his wealthy American wife.[13] Williamson attended Winchester College before going on to study at Clare College, Cambridge, where he received a lower second-class[14] degree in English literature.[12][15] Upon graduating, he taught at a college in Ghana for a brief period.[12][13] In September 1965 he returned to England and from 1965 to 1970 taught at St Paul's School in London, where records show him to have been a popular teacher and speaker, involved with multiple extracurricular activities.[13]

Williamson, originally an Anglican, was received into the Catholic Church in 1971.[12][16] After a few months as a postulant at the Brompton Oratory, he left.[13] He became a member of the Society of St Pius X, a traditionalist Catholic faction founded by Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre in 1970 in protest against what Lefebvre saw as the liberalism of the Second Vatican Council,[12][16] Williamson entered the International Seminary of Saint Pius X at Écône, Switzerland, and in 1976 he was ordained a priest by Lefebvre.[15][16]

Williamson subsequently moved to the United States, where he served as the rector of St. Thomas Aquinas Seminary in Ridgefield, Connecticut from 1983, and continued in the position when the seminary moved to Winona, Minnesota in 1988.[15][17]

Williamson is fluent in English, French, German and Spanish.[18]

Consecration and excommunication

Template:Bishop controversy SSPX

Episcopal duties

After his episcopal consecration Williamson remained rector of St. Thomas Aquinas Seminary in Winona, Minnesota.[17] He performed various episcopal functions, including confirmations and ordinations. In 1991, he assisted in the consecration of Licínio Rangel as bishop for the Priestly Society of St. John Mary Vianney after the death of its founder, Bishop Antônio de Castro Mayer.[citation needed] In 2006, he ordained two priests and seven deacons in Warsaw, Poland for the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Priestly Society of Saint Josaphat.[19]

In 2003 Williamson was appointed rector of the Seminary of Our Lady Co-Redemptrix in La Reja, Argentina.[16]

Views

Catholicism

In common with his colleagues in the Society of St. Pius X, Williamson opposes the changes in the Catholic Church brought about by the Second Vatican Council. He sees such changes as being unacceptably liberal and modernistic, and as being destructive to the Church.[20][21][22] Among the changes he opposes are the Church's increased openness to other Christian denominations and other religions,[20][23] and changes in the forms of Catholic worship such as the general replacement of the Tridentine Mass with the Mass of Paul VI. Williamson has criticised Pope John Paul II, to whom he attributed a "weak grasp of Catholicism".[24] Williamson holds that the SSPX is not schismatic, but rather is composed of true Catholics who are keeping the "complete Roman Catholic apostolic faith".[20][21][22][25]

Williamson is viewed as being located towards the hardline end of the traditionalist spectrum, though he does not go quite so far as to espouse sedevacantism.[26][27][28] In the past, he opposed compromise between the SSPX and the Church leadership in Rome,[29][30] accusing the latter of deceit[27] and of being under "the power of Satan".[20][28] He has been reported as viewing reconciliation between the SSPX and the Holy See as being impossible, and he has noted that some SSPX members might refuse to follow the Society in such a direction even if an agreement were reached.[15][30][31]

Society

Williamson holds strong views regarding gender roles and dress. He opposes women wearing trousers or shorts,[32][33][34] attending college or university, or having a career,[35][36] and has urged greater "manliness" in men.[33][34]

He supports authoritarian parenting style, denouncing the film The Sound of Music as "soul-rotting slush" and saying that, by putting "friendliness and fun in the place of authority and rules, it invites disorder between parents and children."[13][37][38]

Williamson supports conspiracy theories regarding the assassination of President Kennedy, and the World Trade Center controlled demolition conspiracy theory, denying that the latter were terrorist attacks but were instead staged by the U.S. government.[15][34][39] He has also said that the 7 July 2005 London bombings were an "inside job" and propagated rumours about the likelihood of a nuclear attack on the London Olympics in 2012.[40]

Jews and Holocaust denial

Williamson condemns the Jews.[41] He called them the "enemies of Christ" and urges their conversion to Catholicism.[42][43][44] He says that Jews and Freemasons have contributed to the "changes and corruption" in the Catholic Church.[45][46][47][42] He has also stated that Jews aim at world dominion[15][48] and believes The Protocols of the Elders of Zion to be authentic.[15] Williamson has denied that he is promoting hatred,[42][43] asserting that "I was attacking the enemies of our Lord Jesus Christ, and that includes Jews as well as Communists and Freemasons."[43] He argues that "Anti-Semitism means many things today, for instance, when one criticizes the Israeli actions in the Gaza Strip. The Church has always understood the definition of anti-Semitism to be the rejection of Jews because of their Jewish roots. This is condemned by the Church."[49]

Since the late 1980s, Williamson has been accused of antisemitism and Holocaust denial.[42][46][47][50][51] Citing the Leuchter report,[49] Williamson has denied that millions of Jews were murdered in Nazi concentration camps and the existence of Nazi gas chambers[16][52][53] and praised Holocaust denier Ernst Zündel.[42][43][46][47] During an interview on Swedish television recorded in November 2008, he stated: "I believe that the historical evidence is strongly against, is hugely against six million Jews having been deliberately gassed in gas chambers as a deliberate policy of Adolf Hitler",[53] and "I think that 200,000 to 300,000 Jews perished in Nazi concentration camps, but none of them in gas chambers."[16][52][54]

Lifting of the excommunication

Wishing to heal the rift with the SSPX, Pope Benedict XVI lifted the declared automatic excommunications of the four bishops Marcel Lefebvre had consecrated, as they had requested.[51][52][55] The decree was signed on 21 January 2009, the same day that the interview on Swedish television was broadcast.[52][56][57] The decision stirred widespread outrage,[52] particularly in Germany, where the interview was conducted and where Holocaust denial is illegal and punishable by imprisonment of up to five years.[58] Reaction from the State of Israel and much of the worldwide Jewish community was strongly negative, and Abraham Foxman, president of the Anti-Defamation League, wrote to Cardinal Walter Kasper in order to express his opposition to any ecclesiastic re-integration of Williamson.[59] In January 2009, the Chief Rabbinate of Israel suspended contacts with the Vatican. The Chief Rabbi of Haifa told the Jerusalem Post that he expected Williamson to retract publicly his statements before any dialogue could resume.[60]

Pope Benedict XVI stated that he deplored all forms of antisemitism and that all Catholics must do the same.[61] The Pope expressed his "unquestionable solidarity" with the Jewish people, and stated his hope that "the memory of the Shoah will induce humanity to reflect on the unpredictable power of hate when it conquers the heart of man",[62] and condemned the denial of the Holocaust.[63][64] Vatican officials stated that they had not been aware of Williamson's views prior to the lifting of the excommunication;[65][66] as a result, in a July 2009 Vatican reorganization, the Pope tightened control and supervision over reconciliation efforts with SSPX.[67]

Williamson sent the Pope a letter expressing his regret about the problems that he had caused, but did not retract his statements.[68][69] On 4 February 2009 the Vatican Secretariat of State issued a note stating that Williamson would have to distance himself unequivocally and publicly from the opinions that he had expressed before he would be permitted to act as a bishop within the Church.[70][71] Williamson responded that he would do so only after looking at the historical evidence for himself.[72] On 26 February, he formally apologized for the offence that had been caused by his comments, but did not indicate that he had changed his views.[73][74] The Vatican rejected his apology, stating that he needed to "unequivocally and publicly" withdraw his comments. Some Jewish groups have expressed disappointment at the ambiguity of his apology, because he failed to address the factuality of the Holocaust.[73] He subsequently repeated the denial to followers, stating that "The fact is that the 6 million people who were supposedly gassed represent a huge lie."[18]

Bishop Fellay of the SSPX initially denied responsibility, stating that Williamson's statements were his alone and that the affair did not concern the SSPX as a whole.[75] However, he subsequently forbade Williamson from speaking out publicly about historical or political matters, and asked Pope Benedict for forgiveness for the damage done by Williamson's statements.[76] In a subsequent interview he likened Williamson to uranium, asserting that "It's dangerous when you have it," but you can't "simply leave it by the side of the road.[18]

The Vatican declared that "in order to be admitted to episcopal functions within the Church, (Williamson) will have to take his distance, in an absolutely unequivocal and public fashion, from his position on the Shoah, which the Holy Father (i.e., the Pope) was not aware of when the excommunication was lifted."[5][6][dead link]

In Argentina

Williamson was removed as the head of the seminary of in La Reja, Argentina[53] and Bishop Fellay stated that if Williamson again denied the Holocaust, he would be excluded from the society.[49][61]

In February 2009, the government of Argentina asked Williamson to leave the country over irregularities with his visa, and stating that his recent statements about Jews "profoundly offend the Argentinean society, the Jewish people and all of humanity".[77] On 24 February 2009 Williamson flew from Argentina to London, where he was met by Michele Renouf, a former model known for her antisemitic views, with whom he had been put in touch by holocaust denier David Irving.[49][78][79][80]

Criminal investigation in Germany

On 4 February 2009, German prosecutors announced the launch of a criminal investigation into the statements.[81] In October 2009, a German court, using an "order of punishment" fined Williamson €12,000 after finding him guilty of Holocaust denial.[82][83] Williamson denied the charges and appealed, paving the way for a full hearing that Williamson need not attend.[83][84] He did not attend the trial, on orders from his society, on charges of inciting racial hatred in Regensburg, Germany on 16 April 2010, and was found guilty. The court reduced the fine to €10,000.[85] The fine was appealed by lawyers from both sides; the lawyer Williamson hired was the former leader of the Wiking-Jugend, an outlawed Neo-Nazi group.[86] The Society of St. Pius X ordered Williamson to find a new lawyer under threat of expulsion.[86][87] This delayed the appeal[88] which was held on 11 July 2011. At appeal the lower court's decision was upheld but the fine was reduced to €6,500, reportedly due to Williamson's financial circumstances.[89][90] On 22 February 2012 the higher court dismissed this conviction, finding that the initial charges against Williamson had been inadequately drawn, having failed to specify the nature of his offence, or at what point his filmed comments came under German jurisdiction, or in what sense he could be held liable for failing to prevent their publication in Germany.[7] On 16 January 2013, he was prosecuted and condemned again, but this time with a much reduced fine of €1,600, because of his "unemployed state". He refused to pay the fine and appealed again,[9] but his appeal was dismissed.[10]

Expulsion from SSPX

In August 2012 Williamson administered the sacrament of Confirmation to about 100 lay people at the Benedictine Monastery of the Holy Cross in Nova Friburgo, Brazil, during an unauthorized visit to the State of Rio de Janeiro. The society's South American district superior, Father Christian Bouchacourt, protested against his action on the SSPX website, saying that it was "a serious act against the virtue of obedience."[91] In early October the leadership of the SSPX gave Williamson a deadline to declare his submission, instead of which he published an "open letter" asking for the resignation of the Superior General.[11][92] In October 2012 the Society expelled Williamson in a "painful decision" citing the failures "to show respect and obedience deserved by his legitimate superiors".[11][93]

In the first issue of his weekly blog after his expulsion, Williamson wrote: "Hang tight, everybody. We are in for one 'helluva' ride. Let's just make that a ride to Heaven!"[94] And later he wrote: "For myself, I shall attempt to follow [God's] Providence in the ordaining of priests – or in the consecrating of bishops. God's will be done."[95] He called for the establishment of a loose network of what he called "Catholic Resistance" to any proposal by the Society to drop its opposition to Rome.[96] A fund-raising initiative "for all purposes of the Catholic Resistance patronized by His Excellency Bishop Richard Williamson" was set up under the title "The St. Marcel Initiative".[97]

Second excommunication

On 19 March 2015, Williamson ordained Jean-Michel Faure, a former member of the SSPX, as a bishop in a ceremony in Nova Friburgo, Brazil. As this was without papal mandate, both Faure and Williamson (again) have incurred a latae sententiae excommunication.[98]

References

  1. ^ Apostolic Letter 'Ecclesia Dei'
  2. ^ The 1988 consecrations: a theological study (July & September 1999). Sì sì no no via SSPX.org. Accessed 2008-01-01 Archived 2011-08-17 at the Wayback Machine
  3. ^ The 1988 consecrations: a canonical study (November 1999). Sì sì no no via SSPX.org. Accessed 2008-01-01
  4. ^ Magister, Sandro (28 January 2009). "No More Excommunication for the Lefebvrists. But Peace Is Still Far Off". Retrieved 17 October 2013.
  5. ^ a b Magister, Sandro (4 February 2009). "Double Disaster at the Vatican: Of Governance, and of Communication". Retrieved 17 October 2013.
  6. ^ a b Owen, Richard; Gledhill, Ruth (5 February 2009). "Pope insists Bishop Richard Williamson must renounce Holocaust denial". The Times. London. Retrieved 12 September 2009. [dead link]
  7. ^ a b Hamburger Abendblatt, 22 February 2012
  8. ^ "German court convicts British Holocaust-denying bishop", Haaretz/Associated Press, 16 January 2013
  9. ^ a b Fourth Trial
  10. ^ a b "German court quashes appeal by Holocaust-denying bishop". 23 September 2013. Retrieved 17 October 2013.
  11. ^ a b c "Communiqué of the General House of the Society of Saint Pius X
  12. ^ a b c d e "Bishop on the run: Holocaust denier back in Britain". The Independent. London. 26 February 2009. Retrieved 12 September 2009.
  13. ^ a b c d e Levy, Geoffrey (6 February 2009). "Does the outcast bishop who denies the Holocaust have a grudge against M&S?". Mail Online. London: Daily Mail. Retrieved 2 March 2009.
  14. ^ The Annual Register of the University of Cambridge for the Year 1961–62 (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1962).
  15. ^ a b c d e f g Arco, Anna (5 March 2008). "Lefebvrists face crisis as bishop is exposed as 'dangerous' anti-Semite". The Catholic Herald. Catholic Herald Limited. Archived from the original on 25 June 2008. Retrieved 24 June 2008. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  16. ^ a b c d e f Walker, Peter (25 February 2009). "Profile: Richard Williamson". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 11 May 2009.
  17. ^ a b "Holocaust-denying bishop lived in Minn. 15 years". Star Tribune. 9 February 2009. Retrieved 12 September 2009.
  18. ^ a b c "Catholic Bishop Williamson Unrepentant in Holocaust Denial". ABC News. 1 February 2010. Retrieved 20 March 2010. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |authors= ignored (help)
  19. ^ "Ukrainian priest excommunicated". Catholic World News. CWN. 23 November 2007. Retrieved 24 June 2008. SSPX Bishop Richard Williamson illicitly ordained two SSJK priests and seven deacons.
  20. ^ a b c d Moylan, Martin J. (11 December 1988). "US Seminary of front line in Catholic Doctrine Battle". The Dallas Morning News. {{cite news}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help)
  21. ^ a b Neuerbourg, Hanns (1 July 1988). "New Traditionalist Bishop Says Fight Just Beginning". The Associated Press. {{cite news}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help)
  22. ^ a b McAteer, Michael (3 April 1989). "Liberalism destroying church, bishop says". The Toronto Star. {{cite news}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help)
  23. ^ Wilkins, Emma (19 September 1988). "Bishop attacks Rome 'poison';Bishop Richard Williamson". The Times. {{cite news}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help)
  24. ^ Owen, Richard (21 April 2003). "Pope woos conservatives expelled for rebellion". Times Online. London. Retrieved 29 July 2008.
  25. ^ Stowell, Linda (13 August 1988). "Ousted bishop says pope ruining church". Houston Chronicle. {{cite news}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help)
  26. ^ Ein Damenbesuch und andere unbekannte Seiten des Papstes
  27. ^ a b "Pope opens talks with Latin Mass renegades". Times Online. London. 29 August 2005. Retrieved 12 September 2009. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |authors= ignored (help)
  28. ^ a b McAteer, Michael (15 April 1989). "Maverick bishop confirms Lefebvre's way". The Toronto Star. {{cite news}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help)
  29. ^ Lefebvrist bishop says no reconciliation with Rome
  30. ^ a b "Pope meets head of ultraconservative movement". USA Today. 29 August 2005. Retrieved 2 August 2008.
  31. ^ SSPX bishop sees little hope for agreement with Rome
  32. ^ Farney, Dennis (23 August 1995). "Paranoia Is Becoming An Article of Faith In a Tiny Kansas Town – A Split Among Its Catholics Is as Much About Suspicion As It Is About Doctrine". The Wall Street Journal. {{cite news}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help)
  33. ^ a b Papadakis, Mary (14 July 2002). "Catholic right over 'sect'". Sunday Herald Sun. {{cite news}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help)
  34. ^ a b c "Bishop's homily ranges from Columbus to 'JFK'". The Salt Lake Tribune. 28 March 1992. pp. A12. {{cite news}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help)
  35. ^ Pigott, Robert (4 February 2009). "Profile: Bishop Richard Williamson". BBC NEWS. Retrieved 12 September 2009. A woman can do a good imitation of handling ideas, but then she will not be thinking properly as a woman. Did this lawyeress check her hairdo before coming into court? If she did, she is a distracted lawyer. If she did not, she is one distorted woman.
  36. ^ http://web.archive.org/web/20071102091508/www.sspx.ca/Documents/Bishop-Williamson/September1-2001.htm
  37. ^ Bess Twiston Davies (26 February 2009). "Bishop Williamson, shrinks, and The Sound of Music". Timesonline. Archived from the original on 22 July 2009. Retrieved 12 September 2009. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  38. ^ Williamson, Richard. "Letter to Friends & Benefactors – November 1997". www.sspxseminary.org. Retrieved 12 September 2009. [dead link]
  39. ^ Koch, Einar. "Bishop Williamson's mad conspiracy theories". Retrieved 8 June 2009.
  40. ^ Coppen, Luke. "Morning Catholic must-reads: 26/07/12". Retrieved 26 July 2012.
  41. ^ Traditional Catholicism and the Teachings of Bishop Williamson. J. Christopher Pryor, Journal for the Study of Antisemitism (Vol. I, Issue 2, p. 233 2009)
  42. ^ a b c d e Legge, Gordon (15 April 1989). "Holocaust stance probed". Calgary Herald. {{cite news}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help)
  43. ^ a b c d "The Holocaust: Zeal and ignorance". The Windsor Star. 20 April 1989. pp. A.10. {{cite news}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help)
  44. ^ Weisbord]], Robert G.; Sillanpoa, Wallace P. (1992). The Chief Rabbi, the Pope, and the Holocaust: an era in Vatican-Jewish relations. Transaction Publishers. p. 194. ISBN 978-0-88738-416-5. Williamson denies that Catholics and Jews worship the same god. Jews worship the god of the Talmud who is "a devil, an absolute devil"
  45. ^ National Catholic Reporter, 30 March 2001, quoting a 3 October 2000 letter by Williamson.
  46. ^ a b c McAteer, Michael (21 April 1989). "Catholic bishop won't be charged for remarks about Jews, police say". The Toronto Star. pp. A10. {{cite news}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help)
  47. ^ a b c McAteer, Michael (14 April 1989). "Chief Canadian bishop denounces clergyman's anti-Jewish comments". The Toronto Star. pp. A11. {{cite news}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help)
  48. ^ 1 February 1991 Letter
  49. ^ a b c d "SPIEGEL Interview with Bishop Richard Williamson: 'I Will Not Travel to Auschwitz'". Spiegel.de. 9 February 2009. Retrieved 21 May 2009. Cite error: The named reference "spiegel" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
  50. ^ Robert G. Weisbord and Wallace P. Sillanpoa: The Chief Rabbi, the Pope, and the Holocaust (Transaction Publishers 1991 ISBN 0-88738-416-1), p. 202
  51. ^ a b "Pope to cancel excommunication of rebel bishops". London: The Daily Telegraph. 23 January 2009. Retrieved 23 January 2009.
  52. ^ a b c d e Willan, Philip (25 January 2009). "Pope readmits Holocaust-denying priest to the church". The Independent. London. Retrieved 11 May 2009.
  53. ^ a b c "Seminary sacks 'Holocaust bishop'". BBC News. 9 February 2009. Retrieved 11 May 2009.
  54. ^ "Pope to cancel excommunication of rebel bishops". Telegraph. London. 23 January 2009. Retrieved 23 January 2009.
  55. ^ Pope lifts excommunications of Lefebvrite bishops
  56. ^ Agnew, Paddy (23 January 2009). "Pope to lift excommunications of four 'Lefebvre' bishops". Irish Times. Retrieved 23 January 2009.
  57. ^ CBCP News, Vatican: Bishop's Holocaust statements 'strongly rejected' by pope
  58. ^ Reaktioner i Tyskland – redan före sändning!
  59. ^ ADL To Vatican: Do Not Rehabilitate Holocaust Denier Bishop
  60. ^ BBC: Pope in bid to dampen bishop row
  61. ^ a b Nicole Winfield (26 January 2009). "Vatican: Comments by Holocaust Denier Unacceptable". ABC News. Retrieved 12 September 2009. [dead link]
  62. ^ Pope tries to heal rift with Jews over Holocaust denier
  63. ^ Pullella, Philip (12 February 2009). "Pope tells Jews Holocaust denial is "intolerable"". Reuters. Retrieved 12 February 2009.
  64. ^ "Pope condemns denial of Holocaust". BBC. 12 February 2009. Retrieved 12 February 2009.
  65. ^ David, Ariel (29 January 2009). "Priest in Italy Defends Holocaust-Denier". ABC News. Archived from the original on 7 February 2009. Retrieved 12 September 2009. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  66. ^ Pope denies feeling alone over Holocaust-denying bishop
  67. ^ "Pope orders reform after Holocaust denial flap". USA Today. 9 July 2009. Retrieved 12 September 2009.
  68. ^ Bishop Williamson apologizes for 'imprudent' Holocaust remarks
  69. ^ "Bishop who denied Holocaust apologizes to pope". The Boston Globe. 31 January 2009. Retrieved 12 September 2009.
  70. ^ Bulletin of the Press Office of the Holy See, 4 February 2009
  71. ^ "Holocaust bishop' told to recant". BBC NEWS. news.bbc.co.uk. 4 February 2009. Retrieved 12 September 2009.
  72. ^ "I Will Not Travel to Auschwitz." Spiegel Online. 9 February 2009.
  73. ^ a b "Vatican rejects bishop's apology". BBC News. 27 February 2009. Retrieved 27 February 2009.
  74. ^ ZENIT article
  75. ^ The Remnant
  76. ^ Winfold, Nicole (27 January 2009). "Forgiveness Sought for Holocaust-Denying Bishop". ABC News. Retrieved 12 September 2009. [dead link]
  77. ^ "Lefebvrist bishop leaves Argentina". Catholic News Agency. 25 February 2009. Retrieved 20 March 2010.
  78. ^ Holocaust-denying bishop leaves Argentina for Britain after airport scuffle The Times. 24th February, 2009.
  79. ^ "Holocaust-denying bishop lands in UK after expulsion from Argentina", The Guardian, 25 February 2009
  80. ^ Totaro, Paola (26 February 2009). "Renouf greets expelled bishop". Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 13 September 2009.
  81. ^ CNN: Vatican: Bishop must recant Holocaust denial
  82. ^ Pidd, Heidi (26 October 2009). "German court fines British bishop for Holocaust claims". London: The Guardian. Retrieved 3 January 2010.
  83. ^ a b Hall, Allan (10 November 2009). "British bishop Richard Williamson to go on trial in Germany for Holocaust denial". London: Daily Mail. Retrieved 3 January 2010.
  84. ^ Foreign, Our (10 November 2009). "British bishop 'to go on trial' in Germany over racial hatred". London: Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 3 January 2010.
  85. ^ Associated Press (16 April 2010). "British bishop convicted of Holocaust denial: German court fines cleric $13,000 for saying Jews were not gassed to death". Retrieved 16 April 2010.
  86. ^ a b WINFIELD, NICOLE (23 November 2010). "Holocaust-denying bishop threatened with expulsion". Charleston Daily Mail. Charleston, W.V. p. A.9.
  87. ^ General House Press Release
  88. ^ "German trial of Holocaust-denying bishop set for July". Earth Times. 23 March 2011.
  89. ^ "German court fines bishop for denying Holocaust". Reuters. 11 July 2011.
  90. ^ Holocaust denier Bishop Richard Williamson loses appeal by Jessica Elgot, Jewish Chronicle, 11 July 2011.
  91. ^ http://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/bishop-causes-more-controversy-for-breakaway-catholic-group/
  92. ^ Wooden, Cindy (24 October 2012). "SSPX expels Bishop Williamson, who opposed talks with Vatican". catholicnews.com. Retrieved 19 February 2013.
  93. ^ Squires, Nick (24 October 2012). "Holocaust denying British bishop expelled from religious order". The Daily Telegraph. London: TMG. ISSN 0307-1235. OCLC 49632006. Retrieved 19 February 2013.
  94. ^ Eleison Comments CCLXXVI ― 27 October 2012.
  95. ^ Eleison Comments CCLXXVIII ― 10 November 2012.
  96. ^ Catholic Herald, 9 November 2012, p. 2, "Expelled bishop urges network of 'Catholic resistance'"
  97. ^ The St. Marcel Initiative
  98. ^ http://www.catholicnews.com/data/stories/cns/1501193.htm

Bibliography

  • The Rural Solution: Modern Catholic Voices on Going Forward to the Land (2003, with P. Chojnowski, W. Marx, W. Nutting, C. McCann)
  • Letters from the Rector by Bishop Richard Williamson
    • Volume 1: The Ridgefield Letters covering 1983–1988 (2007)
    • Volume 2: The Winona Letters Part I covering 1988–1994 (2008)
    • Volume 3: The Winona Letters Part II covering 1994–1999 (2009)
    • Volume 4: The Winona Letters Part III covering 2000–2003 (2009)

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