Holocaust Memorial Day....

In the last few days it has been reported that Auschwitz needs £13.2 million spending on it in order to preserve it. I have no doubt that there will be many who say that such a place ought to be raised to the ground and yet I would strongly disagree. If such places were erased from the face of the earth we would be ignoring that side of our nature that is evidence for our need of redemption and shows that we cannot achieve it ourselves.

In the same period we have heard of Bishop Richard Williamson who has said that the numbers killed in the Holocaust were no where near the well-documented figures and that no one was gassed. It is appalling statements like those that illustrate the very reason why Auschwitz should be preserved. To erase such places would play into the hands of such lunatic and possibly anti-Semitic views.

In the light of this I was pleased to read the following today from the Zenit News Agency:

"We Ask For the Forgiveness of the Supreme Pontiff"

MENZINGEN, Switzerland, JAN. 27, 2009 (Zenit.org).- Here is a translation of the communiqué made public today by the superior-general of the Society of St. Pius X, Bishop Bernard Fellay, in which he apologizes for statements made by Bishop Richard Williamson, a member of the society, in which he denied the extent of the Holocaust.

"On Saturday, the Pope lifted the excommunication of the four bishops ordained by Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre in 1988 without papal permission. Bishops Fellay and Williamson were among the four.

We have come to know of an interview given by Bishop Richard Williamson, a member of our Fraternity of St. Pius X, on Swedish television. In this interview he spoke of historical questions, in particular on the question of the genocide of the Jews by the Nazis.

It is evident that a Catholic bishop cannot speak with ecclesial authority if it is not a question of faith and morals. Our fraternity does not claim any authority over other questions. Its mission is the propagation and restoration of authentic Catholic doctrine, as found in the dogmas of the faith. It is for this that we are known, accepted and appreciated throughout the world.

With great sadness we acknowledge the extent to which the violation of this mandate has damaged our mission. The statements of Bishop Williamson do not reflect in any way the position of our society. For this, I have prohibited him, until further notice, from speaking publicly on these political and historical questions

We ask for the forgiveness of the Supreme Pontiff, and of all people of good will, for the dramatic consequences of this act. As we recognize how imprudent the statements were, we affirm with sadness that they have directly affected our fraternity by discrediting our mission.

This is not acceptable, and we declare that we will continue preaching Catholic doctrine and administering the sacraments of grace of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Menzingen, Jan. 27, 2009
Bishop Bernard Fellay
Superior General


[Translation by Karna Swanson]