Rabbi,
This post, as your others, reflects that you are a man of prayer and deep reflection. The spirit of the Lord is clearly with you. Why are you not at the forefront of interfaith relations with my Church? Count me as one very grateful Catholic for your pastoral wisdom.
God Bless!

“I wonder if all those who castigated the Pope so quickly for his initial attempt at rapprochement with Bishop Williamson, three other SSPX Bishops and the community they represent, will be as effusive in their praise of this new move from the Vatican.”
Indeed. But then, your religion has some commandments about seeking equity, doesn’t it?

Isn’t it too little too late? Yet another in an emerging pattern of insensitivity and pandering to traditionalism from “The German Shepherd?”

I have no reason to want to appear “morally superior”. However, personally, I think that “self-protection” is a very good thing. The Jewish People have been on the “receiving end” of a horrendous “Christian Love” for hundreds of years — if not more. To expect that feelings of hurt, fear, and insult should be erased in a mere few tens of years is — at best — a fantasy. I think that many Jews just want to be “left alone” and NOT have to worry about a church who — for many years — prayed for the conversion of the perfidious Jew. Jews who do not want to have to suffer the indignity of a church that — for MANY YEARS — refused to even RECOGNIZE the Jewish State and — almost explicitly — worked against Zionistic aspirations — apparently because the Jews were cursed. And, whose “act of recognition” was almost done as a “favor”. I beleive tht many Jews do not “need” favors like that from a church which included members who “lovingly” agreed to hide Jewish children which they then converted. I have yet to see this church truly condemn those actions of deceit “in the name of ‘love’”.
So, I — and I believe many others like me — are NOT interested in “Interfaith Dialog” as some sort of lofty goal rather it is a means to not be insulted, hurt, or being “put down” by one of the “descendant faiths”.
Is it nice that the Pope insists that this Bishop recant the garbage that he spews over the Sho’ah? Sure it is. And, it would have been EVEN NICER if that requirement to recant had been stated clearly at the time when this Bishop was “welcomed back”. (Though perhaps, this was just a problem with how the matter was reported.) So, no — I am not very excited that the Pope “did the right thing” rather, he should hve done “the right thing” before the whole controversy ever began.

While I agree that at the Papal level there needs to be more sensitivity in order to promote Interfaith cooperation, at the grass roots level that are a lot of things going on to bring Jews, Christians and Catholics, and Muslims together. These are, unfortunately, independat actions. When all people work together to celebrate the similiarites in our Faith and relgious practices good things happen. But when we focus on the differences, and are not sensitive to the feelings and experiences that, in some cases, have been around for millenia, then problems will occur.

When a public figure of any kind responds to and moves to correct a mistake that individual deserves compliment. The Pope responded and did it quickly. I am one who criticized and now personally commend him for the decision. Is it too little? Perhaps, but it is a step forward and needs to be recognized as such.

The Vatican has a lot of past sins. Their neglect of the sex abuse scandals. Their early sins during the crusades. Their stand on women becoming priests. The elderly priests were always taken care of but not the nuns. There have been lost of bad financial dealings also.
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I think the Pope is pandering to his critics. If he truly felt that this newly instated bishop should recant his opinions, he should have made that known prior to the reinstatement. I think his actions are too little too late, and he isn’t doing “the right thing” for its own sake but to save the swiftly eroding public image of the Vatican. I wish I could believe that he is sincere, but I think the order for the bishop to recant is just a media ploy to hush the critics.

The Pope can demand that Williamson recant his statement, but Williamson spouting the words doesn’t mean he means them. I would doubt that even if he actually does say them, he won’t believe them. It would be done to be “allowed” back into the good graces of Benny and the RCC. I’m not sure Williamson cares. He has his own group of followers…does he need the RCC?

It’s a step. It’s better that it was taken than not taken, and it’s better now than a decade from now.
Last week, Brad said “Of course the test will be if in the weeks and months ahead, Benedict is willing to reach as far to his left as he has now reached to his right.” The reinstated bishops, whether or not they renounce the denial of the Shoah, are far to the right in the Roman Catholic Church. Will Benedict reach out to include liberation theologians, feminist Catholics, and genuine interfaith initiatives? Can he include this broad range in his sense of the mission of the Catholic Church?
Time will tell.

“but I wonder if all those who castigated the Pope so quickly for his initial attempt at rapprochement with Bishop Williamson, three other SSPX Bishops and the community they represent, will be as effusive in their praise of this new move from the Vatican.”
Some may, but for the most part it easier to point out anothers short comings than to examine ones own.We have enough problems among our own to level the playing field.
Homo Mysticus

The comments of some here at Beliefnet regarding Pope Benedict have been interesting.
If he does not demand that Willimson recants, he’s a closet Nazi.
If he demands that Williamson recants, he’s pandering to his critics.
So, he’s damned either way.
I think that a fair reading of this prolific theologian’s works show him to be irreproachable in his abhorrence of anti-Semitism and in his love of humanity. Pagansister does have a point. Williamson’s recant will ring hollow. That said, there is great value in demanding that he do so.

Bishop Williamson needs to invite as many of the few Shoah survivors to tea. They could have frank and open discussion of his views, and invite him to repudiate Catholicism so that he can study to become Jewish. Once he accomplishes that, and studies in Israel to become a Rabbi we can consider taking his recantation at face value. I hope that readers see the sarcasm in this post. Have a great day!

Rashi,
I see the sarcasm, but as one who desires to build bridges, often over boulders in the ground such as Bishop Williamson, I fail to see anything productive in your sarcasm. History reveres bridge builders. The mediocre and the insane are largely forgotten. Join us on the high road. It’s where you belong.
All the Best!