Pope meets Jews, says denial unacceptable
Pope Benedict XVI, responding to the controversy over his decision to lift the excommunications of four traditionalist bishops, one of whom denies the Holocaust, today met at the Vatican with American Jewish leaders travelling under the auspices of the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations.
The pope, speaking in English, rejected Holocaust denial, saying, "It is beyond question that any denial or minimization of this terrible crime is intolerable and altogether unacceptable.'' And the pope confirmed for the first time that he is planning a trip to Israel, which is widely expected to take place in the spring. Here is the text of his remarks:
"Dear Friends,I am pleased to welcome all of you today, and I thank Rabbi Arthur Schneier and Mr Alan Solow for the greetings they have addressed to me on your behalf. I well recall the various occasions, during my visit to the United States last year, when I was able to meet some of you in Washington D.C. and New York. Rabbi Schneier, you graciously received me at Park East Synagogue just hours before your celebration of Pesah. Now, I am glad to have this opportunity to offer you hospitality here in my own home. Such meetings as this enable us to demonstrate our respect for one another. I want you to know that you are all most welcome here today in the house of Peter, the home of the Pope.
I look back with gratitude to the various opportunities I have had over many years to spend time in the company of my Jewish friends. My visits to your communities in Washington and New York, though brief, were experiences of fraternal esteem and sincere friendship. So too was my visit to the Synagogue in Cologne, the first such visit in my Pontificate. It was very moving for me to spend those moments with the Jewish community in the city I know so well, the city which was home to the earliest Jewish settlement in Germany, its roots reaching back to the time of the Roman Empire.
A year later, in May 2006, I visited the extermination camp at Auschwitz-Birkenau. What words can adequately convey that profoundly moving experience? As I walked through the entrance to that place of horror, the scene of such untold suffering, I meditated on the countless number of prisoners, so many of them Jews, who had trodden that same path into captivity at Auschwitz and in all the other prison camps. Those children of Abraham, grief-stricken and degraded, had little to sustain them beyond their faith in the God of their fathers, a faith that we Christians share with you, our brothers and sisters. How can we begin to grasp the enormity of what took place in those infamous prisons? The entire human race feels deep shame at the savage brutality shown to your people at that time. Allow me to recall what I said on that sombre occasion: "The rulers of the Third Reich wanted to crush the entire Jewish people, to cancel it from the register of the peoples of the earth. Thus the words of the Psalm, ‘We are being killed, accounted as sheep for the slaughter’, were fulfilled in a terrifying way."
Our meeting today occurs in the context of your visit to Italy in conjunction with your annual Leadership Mission to Israel. I too am preparing to visit Israel, a land which is holy for Christians as well as Jews, since the roots of our faith are to be found there. Indeed, the Church draws its sustenance from the root of that good olive tree, the people of Israel, onto which have been grafted the wild olive branches of the Gentiles (cf. Rom 11: 17-24). From the earliest days of Christianity, our identity and every aspect of our life and worship have been intimately bound up with the ancient religion of our fathers in faith.
The two-thousand-year history of the relationship between Judaism and the Church has passed through many different phases, some of them painful to recall. Now that we are able to meet in a spirit of reconciliation, we must not allow past difficulties to hold us back from extending to one another the hand of friendship. Indeed, what family is there that has not been troubled by tensions of one kind or another? The Second Vatican Council’s Declaration Nostra Aetate marked a milestone in the journey towards reconciliation, and clearly outlined the principles that have governed the Church’s approach to Christian-Jewish relations ever since. The Church is profoundly and irrevocably committed to reject all anti-Semitism and to continue to build good and lasting relations between our two communities. If there is one particular image which encapsulates this commitment, it is the moment when my beloved predecessor Pope John Paul II stood at the Western Wall in Jerusalem, pleading for God’s forgiveness after all the injustice that the Jewish people have had to suffer. I now make his prayer my own: "God of our fathers, you chose Abraham and his descendants to bring your Name to the Nations: we are deeply saddened by the behaviour of those who in the course of history have caused these children of yours to suffer, and asking your forgiveness we wish to commit ourselves to genuine brotherhood with the people of the Covenant" (26 March 2000).
The hatred and contempt for men, women and children that was manifested in the Shoah was a crime against God and against humanity. This should be clear to everyone, especially to those standing in the tradition of the Holy Scriptures, according to which every human being is created in the image and likeness of God (Gen 1:26-27). It is beyond question that any denial or minimization of this terrible crime is intolerable and altogether unacceptable. Recently, in a public audience, I reaffirmed that the Shoah must be "a warning for all against forgetfulness, denial or reductionism, because violence committed against one single human being is violence against all" (January 28, 2009).
This terrible chapter in our history must never be forgotten. Remembrance — it is rightly said — is memoria futuri, a warning to us for the future, and a summons to strive for reconciliation. To remember is to do everything in our power to prevent any recurrence of such a catastrophe within the human family by building bridges of lasting friendship. It is my fervent prayer that the memory of this appalling crime will strengthen our determination to heal the wounds that for too long have sullied relations between Christians and Jews. It is my heartfelt desire that the friendship we now enjoy will grow ever stronger, so that the Church’s irrevocable commitment to respectful and harmonious relations with the people of the Covenant will bear fruit in abundance."
(Photo, from Osservatore Romano, shows Cardinal Walter Kasper and Pope Benedict XVI with American Jewish leaders at the Vatican today.)
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The attitude of the Pope constitutes - in my opinion - the very definition of cynicism.
It was my impression that the Catholic Church and its highest authority stood for truth. This Pope chose to act - quite selfishly - without any regard to anything or anybody outside the Catholic Church. This is an attitude comparable to that of Iran's president or that of Fidel Castro or Hugo Chavez or Evo Morales.
But then again why am I surprised? This is historically consistent with the attitude of the Catholic Church, in general, with one noticeable exception that of Pope John Paul II.
The damage, the hurt, the insult perpetrated by this Pope and the blind barbaric statements of Williamson are a historical fact as much as it is a historical fact that 6,000,000 Jews perished by the hands of German Nazis.
Does the Pope think that by stating - as opposed to acting out - an apology his aberration will be forgotten? No.
Does Williamson think that by sending an apologetic letter to the Pope the world will forget him? No. By saying what he is saying and by acting the way he is acting Williamson is comparable to another fine example of humanity's scum: Hitler.
Sometimes people hated the German, does not necessary mean they love the
Jews you know, and sometime people love the Jews does not necessary they
hate the German, I am just glad that I am not Jews or a German .
I think Pope Benedict is a fine, decent human being who well realizes the perfidy of anti-semitism. He has consistently tried to repair the rift between Jews and the Catholic church and I commend him for that. If someone wishes to find fault with him for that - so be it.
Hey Haftel...
Get over yourself. I don't know what you were looking for in the Pope's statement but I honestly think that maybe you need to re-read it. Regarding Williamson: linking him and the Pope is just your attempt at Catholic bashing.
"The hatred and contempt for men, women and children that was manifested in the Shoah was a crime against God and against humanity. This should be clear to everyone, especially to those standing in the tradition of the Holy Scriptures, "according to which every human being is created in the image and likeness of God (Gen 1:26-27)."
@Mike Haftel. Your comment places you squarely in the hate-mongering section of human society. It is comments like yours that shoah deniers want to look good.
And in other news, the Jews and Turks will continue to DENY the Armenian Genocide.
As always, the church stands up tall for hipocricy. The views of the bishop in question were already known. Still, the Pope put him back in office. Then, when the filmed remarks and hte outrage show up, the Pope ignores it. When the clamour grows, he acknowledges it. And when the noise is out of control, he makes a speech like this.
And yet the sleezeball who made the remarks is STILL A BISHOP.
Sorry, but the Pope is full of crap. This is about as legit as when Cardinal Law, the guy who spent 40 years shuffling pedophile priests around his parishes was quietly brought to Rome and given a desk job. If the Pope was anything like he's supposed to be, he would have gathered evidence and turned the slimeball over to the be prosecuted. Instead, he gave him a new job.
Mike Haftel:
When Pope Benedict lifted the excommincation, it was to bring unity back to the Catholic church. It was his way of bringing back traditionalists to the church. Just because he lifted the excommunication does not mean that Williamson is accepted as a bishop in the Church. The Pope has been clear on this. He has stated that Williamson will not be recognized in any offical capacity in the church as long as he does not recant. The confusion here is that Williamson and the others in his group were excommunicated because they ordained themselves bishops without the Papal approval. The excommunication had nothing to do with any of Williamson's insane claims about the Holocaust. The overwhelming majority of those in the SSPX group do not agree with Williamson and want him to recant. These are the ones that the Pope is reaching out to bring back into the Church.
You also said that Pope John Paul II was the one exception. One thing that many people overlook is that one major influences and advisors to John Paul II was Cardinal Ratzinger, now known as Pope Benedict. Cardinal Ratzinger's influence was behind John Paul II 's historic trip to Auschwitz and his apology to the Jewish. Pope Benedict has long worked against anti semitism and building relationships with the Jewish Community. I suggest you read the article by Rabbi Yehuda Levin at the following link for more details:
http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2009/feb/09021112.html
phonyuser :
Get your fact right before you start spouting off. Pope Benedict has stated repeatedly that Williamson is NOT A BISHOP in the church. While the excommunication has been lifted, he will not be a recognized bishop and holds no authority in the Church. He will have to recant before the Vatican even considers recognizing him as a bishop.
Get over it. I tired of people like you constantly grabbing for whatever you can to attack the Church and constantly bring up the scandal. Again, get your facts straight. Cardinal Law was in Boston from 1984 to 2002, 18 years in case you can't do the math, not 40 years.
What about these? Not much mention of these people murdered by Communist.
Communism started by Karl Marx. I guess they don't count? There isn't a monopoly on persecution.
# 20 million in the Soviet Union
# 65 million in the People's Republic of China
# 1 million in Vietnam
# 2 million in North Korea
# 2 million in Cambodia
# 1 million in the Communist states of Eastern Europe
# 150,000 in Latin America
# 1.7 million in Africa
# 1.5 million in Afghanistan
# 10,000 deaths "resulting from actions of the international communist movement and communist parties not in power."
s0055d
And let's not forget the 60,000.000 aborted babies since 1973.
And lets not forget that if it was not for whiskey,-the Irish would rule the world!!!!!
The irony here is that the pope used to be a Hitler Youth. He knows better than many that the Holocaust was real.
Whisky or not, don't forget the Irish on the list of persecution: Well over a million starved to death during the famine while the British silos were overflowing with food.
"Pope meets Jews, says denial unacceptable"
WHY THE JEWS ARE IN DENIAL WITH PALESTINIAN HOLOCAUST IN GAZA.
Hey Haftel stop your whining,why do we have to feel sorry for the jews all the time?...what about the blacks,taken as slaves,etc, the poor native indians pushed off their own land,no Irish need apply,the starving millions in africa,
'Pope meets Jews, says denial unacceptable'
The Fact IS Denial is Minimal. The Big Question IS about the " 6 Mega" Figure.
History thaught us that there were several holocausts including the Ongoing in Gaza Against the Palestinians and of Course by the JEWS. WHY CAN WE all Interested TALK ABOUT IT? SHALL WE?
BGlobeWatcher, the British tried to teach the Irish to fish, but they just couldnt grasp it. Nor did the Irish think of something else to eat other than potatos.
I notice that most of the attacks launched on Pope Benedict are based upon opinion or heated rhetoric, never on quantifiable facts.
That is the case 99% of the time Paul - emotional groundless attacks by mostly lapsed Catholics who could never accept authority or who otherwise was paddled for their disobedience in school by the nuns and could never get over it.
J Adair, it's not that the Irish couldn't grasp fishing, it's that they couldn't afford to pay the fee the British charged them for fishing in their own rivers and lakes. Nor could the Irish utilize the fertile land in their own country which the British controlled. Good contribution to the blog, though.
J Adair
"Nor did the Irish think of something else to eat other than potatos"
Gee Bridget I understand people in other lands eat something besides potatoes
I don't believe it Pat
Does this even sound real to you? If this is the extent of your knowledge about the Famine, then please, refrain from posting on the subject.
Hey Rob A:
FACT: The Pope re-instated him AFTER he went on TV and made his statements.
FACT: The Pope will make him a Bishop again as soon as he "recants". So then there will be a lying anti-semetic Bishop, instead of just an anti-semetic Bishop.
FACT: The Pope had this information in hand when he re-instated the Bishop.
FACT: The Pope said nothing about Bishop WIlliamson in his speech
FACT: The Pope could have simply ecommunicated him again to clear the air - instead he's keeping him on.
FACT: Cardinal Law shuffled priests that raped young boys and girls around to hide them form the law instead of turnign them in.
FACT: The Pope shuffled Law to the Vatican instead of throwing him out an making sure he was prosecuted.
You wouldn't have to be "sick and tired" of the attacks if the Catholic Church wasn't run by such a bunch of hypocrites.
J Adair: The British purposely kept Ireland unindustrialized because it would be easier to subjugate them. They also outlawed the teaching of Gaelic and many political groups in Ireland as well. Historically, parsnips were the Irish staple before potatoes.
I'd tell you more but it already appears you have egg on your face.
Have read the blogs all week and they were all nice. positive and helpful. again, an article comes out on the catholic church and all the april first people come out and are there to throw stones. what do you people do, just sit down and wait for a catholic church article and then comeout with your halloween mask. what a life.
I love his ball gown. Really goes with all the gold around his neck. So charitable.
Until people realize what a sham the church is, they will keep being their usual hypocritical self. "Oh save the poor" with $20,000 of jewelry on, "holocaust statements are wrong" and the reinstate the clown, "molesting children is bad" while hiding these perverts, and sending Law where the authorities can't get him, and don't even get me started on what they have done thru the centuries. If this is the love that god wants us to have, then screw god.
Phonyuser,
Again you twisted the facts. Williamson is not a Bishop in the Catholic Church. Williamson was made a Bishop by the SSPX society, not by the Pope. SSPX bishops were formally excommunicated because they performed these invalid ordinations.
The excommunication was lifted but the Pope has clearly stated that they are still not accepted as Bishops in the Church. They have no authority in the Church. The point of lifting the excommunication was to open the door to bring the society back into communion with the church. This was only the first step. Again for any of the "bishops" to be ultimately given authority in the church, they will have to accept the full teachings of the church and the authority of the Pope. This includes Willaimson recanting and apologizing for his past remarks. But I guess anyone that recants or apologizes about past mistakes is automatically a liar in your opinion or does that apply only to Catholics who you appear to have a grudge against. Also, the excommunication had nothing to do with Williamson's remarks. Whether or not the Pope was aware of his comments is besides the point because it has nothing to do with the excommunicaiton in the first place.
Secondly, formal excommunications are not something the Church takes lightly or does very often. Excommunicating Williamson for his remarks is not something the Pope would do just to be politcally correct. I wish they would hand out a few more to people like Biden and Pelosi, and the Kennedy's who call themselves Catholic but are pro-abortion and arrogant about it.
As for Cardinal Law, I will not defend his actions in handling the abuse cases. But I will say that the Catholic church has taken many measures to end pedophiles and active gays hiding the the priesthood. The number of abuse cases since the these measures were implemented has virtually disappeared. My whole point of being sick and tired is that people like you will never be satisfied until you destroy the Church. That is your real motivation, not protecting children, but bringing down the church. Throughout this blog, people like yourself keep posting comments attacking the Church using the scandals as your weapon, even though the articles have nothing to do with the scandal, such as this one. Your whole agenda is to constantly attack the Church by twisting facts in order to discredit and ultimately destroy the Church. Save me the phoney altruistic speeches about protecting children and the rest of your nonsense, you just hate the Church and the truth that it preaches and defends.
This jewish community needs to close the door on this matter. They need to take the last sip from their cup of sorrow, find their inner-children and give them hugs, and realize that to the rest of the world the window has long since closed on this matter. In other words; get over it.
This blogger might want to review your comment before posting it.
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