Pope, Expressing Solidarity With Jews, Reacts to Uproar Over a Holocaust Denier

Last Saturday, the pope revoked the excommunication of four schismatic ('heretic') bishops, one of which included Bishop Richard Williamson, who last week in an interview said that no more than 300,000 Jews were killed in the Holocaust. On Tuesday, Oded Weiner, the Chief Rabbinate of Israel stated that with a public apology from the bishop, relations with the Vatican would not be able to continue as they had before. But on Wednesday, the Pope expressed his solidarity with the Jews, his 'brothers of the first covenant.' His touching words about the Holocaust granted him praise and admiration from all, including Oded Weiner. However, his action of revoking the excommunication brings in a more doctrinal, global controversy. The pope states that this was done as an act of compassion, but also in the hopes that they will come to realize 'the majesty and authority of the pope and the Second Vatican Council.'

While there are really two issues within this controversy, the first issue placed into discussion is the fact that Bishop Richard Williamson publically denied the events that occurred within the Holocaust, even going so far as to deny the use of gas chambers altogether. This is not only a strike against an entire religion but also against history. There is evidence proving the abuse that the Jewish people received during the Holocaust, including gas chambers. This also takes away from the Jewish faith in that it is something that they endured and survived with the majority remaining faithful. I think it is ignorant and foolish for someone to just outright deny something that has been proven just because they refuse to acknowledge it. But perhaps the even bigger issue within this controversy is the fact that the pope revoked the excommunication of four bishops that had broken from the doctrine presented by the Catholic Church. I do believe in giving people second chances and I admire the pope greatly for being able to do such for people thought of as 'unfaithful'. Personally, it appears to me that he is acting upon his faith in a compassionate way that, historically, has not always been seen by the Vatican. However, it brings into concern among the people of the Catholic Church just how much power the pope has and whether or not by revoking the excommunication the pope is dissenting from doctrine, himself.

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/29/world/europe/29pope.html?_r=2&ref=world