The Pope did not know about the Williamson interview

Cathcon translation of the relevant paragraph of
Benedikt XVI. will vier exkommunizierte Bischöfe zurück in die Kirche holen, unter ihnen ist ein Rechtsextremer - Heikler Gnadenakt des Papstes - Nachrichten - sueddeutsche.de- Benedict XVI will bring four excommunicated bishops back into the Church, one of whom is a right wing extremist. Delicate act of forgiveness by the Pope.

Since the statements of Williamson became common knowledge said Fr Eberhard von Gemmingen, director of the German section of Radio Vatican, the step should not be interpreted as a change of the Pope to the right. Benedict had certainly signed the officially not yet confirmed decree without knowledge of Williamson's statements. "I understand it much more as a step of the Pope to build bridges and to create peace.

And from an article in the Bavarian press.
Fr Peter Frey, the regens of the seminary has refused to confirm whether the interview took place on his property. He has however confirmed that there was a Swedish TV crew present at the deaconing.

This is not surprising given the police investigation.

Comments

hollingsworth said…
Why must you characterize Bp. Williamson as a "rightwing extremist?" He is working from a body of historical revisionist evidence which, I feel, is quite convincing. Did it ever occur to you that the account of 6 million jews systematically exterminated by the Nazis might be flawed and inaccurate?
Unknown said…
When I first heard that Germany had a "Holocaust Denial Law" and people actually went to jail, I thought this is right out of George Orwell's "1984". The Germans keep on shooting themselves in the foot. They send storm troopers to terrorize families home schooling just as Hitler did. As for Holocausts, how come we only hear about the Jewish holocaust and none others? What about the Russian Holocaust where 40 to 80 million died and that included the entire Catholic Clergy? This "Holocaust Denial Law" will only make people wonder what they are trying to hide. If the holocaust happened, it should be able to with stand close scrutiny and open debate. If it is a fabrication, then make a law" Holocaust Denial" and put people in jail but the problem will NOT go away! Robert
pclaudel said…
Mr. Hollingsworth needs to be forgiven for failing to understand that the statements and press releases emanating from the Wiesenthal Center and AIPAC have ex cathedra force. Nothing they pronounce upon may morally be held to the normal rules of evidence pertaining to strictly secular matters. Please join me in praying for his enlightenment. Of course, he will still need to lose his job, serve his prison sentence, and contribute half of his savings either to the Likud Center for Perpetual War on the Goyim or to the Obama Forever Committee (aka the New York Times and every TV network in the USA).
Louis said…
Forget about Bishop Williamson's own personal opinion-everyone has one. He IS a most holy Bishop in the Church and even more so than all those around us.

Can one assert that their own bishop is holy, even at all?

God bless him