Subscribe to Print Edition | Sun., February 01, 2009 Shvat 7, 5769 | | Israel Time: 00:36 (EST+7)   Back to Homepage web haaretz.com Haaretz Toolbar Diplomacy Defense Jewish World Opinion National Print Edition Car Rental Books Haaretz Magazine Business Real Estate Joy of Giving Travel Week's End Anglo File

Priest in Italy defends bishop who denied Holocaust, use of gas chambers By The Associated Press ROME - A priest in an ultraconservative society recently rehabilitated by Pope Benedict XVI has defended a bishop in the group and joined him in expressing doubts about the Holocaust. While making more cautious remarks than Bishop Richard Williamson, the Rev. Floriano Abrahamowicz echoed, in an interview published yesterday by an Italian daily, the prelate's doubts that Jews were gassed during World War II. Advertisement "I know gas chambers existed at least to disinfect, I can't say if anybody was killed in them or not," Abrahamowicz told La Tribuna di Treviso, a newspaper in northern Italy. Contacted by phone in Treviso, Abrahamowicz said the report of his interview was accurate, but declined to comment on his remarks. Benedict lifted Williamson's excommunication and those of three other members of the Society of St. Pius X last week as part of his efforts to bring back into the Church the group, which opposes many of the liberalizing reforms of the Second Vatican Council. Williamson's superiors at the society have distanced themselves from his comments. Asked for comment about Abrahamowicz' remarks, a Vatican spokesman, the Rev. Ciro Benedettini, noted that Benedict had warned Wednesday against any denial of the full horror of the Nazi genocide and had expressed his unquestioned solidarity with Jews. The spokesman also reiterated the Holy See's position that rehabilitating Williamson by no means implied that the Vatican shared his views. The Vatican cardinal in charge of negotiating with the society was quoted yesterday as saying that no one at the Vatican knew about Williamson's views until after the decree lifting excommunication had been signed. We absolutely didn't know anything about this Williamson, I really think that no one was aware of it, Cardinal Dario Castrillon Hoyos said in an interview published in Corriere della Sera. Asked why the Vatican went ahead with the public announcement of the rehabilitation after Williamson's views were publicized, he said the decree was already in the hands of the society. "We did what we had to do," the cardinal was quoted as saying. Jewish groups denounced Benedict for embracing Williamson, who denied during an interview broadcast last week on Swedish state TV that 6 million Jews were murdered in the Holocaust. The bishop said only about 200,000 or 300,000 were killed. In yesterday's interview, Abrahamowicz defended the bishop, saying Williamson had not denied the Holocaust but had only questioned the technical aspect of the gas chambers. The priest, who heads the society in northeast Italy, said in the interview he did not doubt that 6 million Jews had been killed in the Holocaust, but added that the figure may have been exaggerated. He compared the Holocaust to the Allied bombing of German cities in World War II and the recent Israeli offensive in Gaza. Abrahamowicz also referred to Jews as being the people of God who then became the God-killing people - a remark that contradicts the Vatican II teaching that Jews as a people cannot be held responsible for the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. Williamson and three other bishops were excommunicated 20 years ago after they were consecrated by the late ultraconservative Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre without papal consent - a move the Vatican at the time called an act of schism. Bookmark to del.icio.us   Every Jew for himself Study: U.S. Jewry's willingness to strengthen Israel ties very low. Turkey's protest Report: Turkish PM Erdogan says 'Palestine today is an open-air prison'.

Read & React WATCH: Turkey PM storms off stage over Peres remarks on Gaza Responses: 205 Spanish FM: We'll act to prevent war crimes probes against Israel Responses: 243 Netanyahu: I'm not bound by Olmert vow to clear settlements Responses: 65 Secret database reveals full extent of illegal Israeli settlement Responses: 66 Top Hamas leader in first public appearance since Gaza war: We won Responses: 54 More Headlines 00:28 Livni to Cypriot FM: Confiscate weapons from Iranian ship 00:08 Sources: Egypt begins installing cameras, sensors at Gaza border 00:45 Vandals attack Venezuela synagogue in 'worst ever' attack on Jewish community 00:35 Abbas postpones Europe trip, flies to Cairo for 'urgent' talks 00:21 Israeli Arabs protest banning of PFLP founder memorial service 00:50 Study: U.S. Jewry's willingness to strengthen Israel ties very low 00:32 Blair: Hamas should be part of peace process 00:50 Report: Gaza Hamas heads furious with Meshal decision to end lull 00:35 Arab MKs: Iran news agency falsified anti-Israel remarks attributed to us 00:46 Report: Turkish PM Erdogan says 'Palestine today is an open-air prison' 00:30 Jordan`s king meets Mitchell, calls for immediate resumption of peace talks 00:43 Palestinians in Gaza launch Grad rocket into Ashkelon 00:53 Report: Palestinian foreign minister demands EU guarantee Israel won't strike Gaza 00:08 Syria's Assad calls for 'positive' dialogue with U.S. Previous Editions Select Day 30 jan 29 jan 28 jan 27 jan 26 jan 25 jan 23 jan 22 jan 21 jan 20 jan 19 jan 18 jan

Special Offers Advertisement Summer in Israel Israeli style - Tzofim Chetz V'Keshet 2009 Passover Vacations The BEST Passover Vacations around ? Mexico, Arizona and Florida Blue And White Forever Israel Army T-shirts Wear with Proud Donate the Soldiers Kit You can make a direct IMPACT! on the life of an Israeli soldier State of Israel Bonds During this time of market volatility, Israel bonds can help. SURF RAMBAM Keep current about new-wave medical care, education and research. Camp Kimama Israel 2009 The best place for your children this summer Fattal Hotel Chain Perfectly located hotels on best resorts of Israel. Eldan Rent a Car Israel's leading car rental company offers you a 20% discount on online reservations Jewish Singles Personal Ads Find the love of your life on JDate.com Junkyard Junk a car - get free towing nationwide and a tax-deductible receipt

Home | TV | Print Edition | Diplomacy | Opinion | Arts & Leisure | Sports | Jewish World | Site rules |

| Makom: Engaging on Israel | Search engine marketing

Haaretz.com, the online edition of Haaretz Newspaper in Israel, offers real-time breaking news, opinions and analysis from Israel and the Middle East. Haaretz.com provides extensive and in-depth coverage of Israel, the Jewish World and the Middle East, including defense, diplomacy, the Arab-Israeli conflict, the peace process, Israeli politics, Jerusalem affairs, international relations, Iran, Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, the Palestinian Authority, the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, the Israeli business world and Jewish life in Israel and the Diaspora.

© Copyright  Haaretz. All rights reserved