Richard Williamson |
A holocaust denying Bishop was finally expelled from a large Catholic group, according to reports.
A traditionalist Catholic rebel group has expelled a British bishop, Richard Williamson, which deeply embarrassed the Vatican, after publicly denying the Holocaust, shortly before being readmitted to the Church three years ago.
The Swiss Society of St. Pius X or SSPX, whose four bishops were excommunicated from 1988 to 2009, said Wednesday they took the action because Williamson had disobeyed his superiors.
Williamson, 72, an opponent of the recent efforts of the SSPX to gain full reintegration into the Church, provoked international outrage with his ultra-hard line views just days before the Vatican lifted prohibitions on him and three other bishops.
His presence in the SSPX leadership appeared to be an obstacle to any agreement with the Vatican. But negotiations have broken down in any case so his ouster may have little effect on the group’s relations with Rome.
The statement said Williamson was excluded for “have distanced himself from the management and governance of the Society of Saint Pius X for several years and refuses to show respect and obedience to his lawful superiors.”
The World Jewish Congress or WJC, welcomed the step, but said it was “too little, too late” to restore the credibility of the Society of Saint Pius X, since they have done little to combat anti-Semitism in their rows by believing that Jews are “the embodiment of the anti-Christ.”
“This decision by the SSPX leaders should have been made years ago,” WJC President Ronald Lauder said. “The reasons given for his dismissal do not mention the damage this man has done against Jews and others.”
The Vatican refused to comment on the statement of the Society of Saint Pius X.
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