Bishop Williamson's Plight

The controversy over the rescinding of the excommunications of the Society of St Pius X bishops and over Bishop Williamson's remarks on the holocaust has subsided somewhat in recent days.  But no one, least of all the SSPX, should be deceived about his situation.

Make no mistake:  Williamson now has a great big bull's-eye on his back. 

Those who should be defending him have all abandoned him.  Benedict XVI has in effect thrown Williamson to the wolves.  Bishop Fellay, the head of Williamson's own SSPX, has told Williamson to drop the "nonsense", ordered him to not say more, and now there is a rumor that Fellay has given Williamson one month to recant.  Michael Matt, one of the principle leaders of the Catholic traditionalists, has written a scurrilous attack on Williamson that effectively reads him out of the traditionalist ranks. 

The wolves, of course, are the world-wide network that promotes the "official" version of the holocaust.  You can be sure that right now there are thousands of people in all parts of the world who are working night and day to find a way to prosecute Williamson, put him in prison, and throw away the key.  Already three countries are ready to arrest him for "holocaust denial."  Today it is reported that Argentina is expelling Williamson within ten days.

The failure of the Vatican, the SSPX and Matt to defend Williamson is unconscionable.  Do they not recognize that the attacks on Williamson are an attack on the Church? And that if the effort to prosecute Williamson is successful, it will weaken the Church?  Don't they realize that there are powerful forces whose hatred of the Church is so great that they will use anything to destroy it?  Don't the Church leaders feel an obligation to try to fend off such attacks?

The answer to all these questions has been emphatically "NO!"  It seems they only want to accommodate the attackers and are content to let Williamson fry.  Such an orientation is short sighted at best and completely bankrupt.

Bishop Fellay, to his great discredit, has forced Williamson into his current defensive posture which is untenable.  Thus he has refrained by order from further comment and has indicated that he will review the evidence for his earlier assertions.  This stance will not work.  There are influential forces working heartlessly to do him in, no matter what he says about reviewing his views.  Their goal is to prosecute him unmercifully or through unrelenting pressure to force him to abjectly repent.  

Bishop Williamson is now in a fight for his survival.  Being forced to lay low or duck the battle by the SSPX leaves him extremely vulnerable.  His only real alternative, absent repudiating his views, is to fight back. Unfurl his banner, elaborate his views, see who salutes, rally his troops, explain what the attack on him is all about.  He needs to explain that the attack on him, regardless of his own views, is an attack on the Church, and that he stands unequivocally in defense of the Church. Hopefully Fellay will soon recognize that the attack on Williamson is also directed at him, the SSPX, and the Church, and allow Williamson to take the necessary steps to defend himself.

Bishop Williamson needs the support of all conscientious Catholics at this time. Prayers for Bishop Williamson are an urgent necessity.  Also, prayers for those in the church who choose to turn their heads the other way during Williamson's torment.