IN THEORY:

Some Jewish leaders warned recently that the Vatican will set back decades of work to improve relations if Pope Benedict XVI stands by his decision to welcome back Bishop Richard Williamson, who has claimed no Jews died in Nazi gas chambers. But Roman Catholic leaders, who condemned Williamson’s assertions, say it’s a way to welcome back the conservative Society of St. Piux X followers. Should the Vatican consider reversing its decision?

The purpose of Pope Benedict XVI’s decision to remit the excommunications of the bishops who are members of the Society of St. Pius X was to initiate the reconciliation of the society with the Roman Catholic Church, an issue involving the internal life of the Church.

The Vatican should not consider reversing its decision because the pope lifting the excommunications in no way implies approval by the pope or the Catholic Church of the views of Bishop Richard Williamson or similar views held by others who desire to legitimize Holocaust denial.

The pope has expressed his ideas regarding the Holocaust very clearly and unambiguously during his pontificate, including his address at the synagogue of Cologne, Germany, in 2005 and at Auschwitz-Birkenau in 2006.

As recently as last month, he said: “As I once again affectionately express my full and indisputable solidarity with our brothers and sisters who received the First Covenant, I trust that the memory of the Shoah will induce humankind to reflect upon the unpredictable power of evil when it conquers the heart of man. May the Shoah be for everyone an admonition against oblivion, negation and reductionism.”

The Vatican has ordered Williamson to recant his erroneous views on the Nazis’ genocidal campaign if he wishes to continue to serve the church. The one to reverse the decision is not the Vatican but Williamson.

The Rev. Msgr. Lawrence J. Baird

Pastor, Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Church

Administrator, Saint John Vianney Chapel

The Holocaust is a Jewish tragedy and a human burden. But it is also a Christian problem. Most of those who murdered, applauded and stood by were Protestants and Catholics.

The pope’s embrace and rehabilitation of a Catholic who charges the Jewish people with inventing the Holocaust stretches credulity beyond the breaking point.

Holocaust denial makes the world safe for anti-Semitism. As Pierre Vidal-Naquet wrote in “Assassins of Memory,” “It is an attempt at extermination on paper that pursues in another register the actual work of extermination. One revives the dead in order the better to strike the living.”

The Vatican decree referred to the need to overcome the “scandal of divisiveness.” The true scandal lies in not separating oneself from those who promote hate.

Rabbi Mark Miller

Temple Bat Yahm

Newport Beach

The Pope should learn from recent U.S. history. Domestic news has shown that all national leaders should pay their taxes before they become national leaders. Also, we found out that chief executives should not earn more than $500,00 a year if they receive federal bailout funds. These examples show that all world leaders answer to a “higher authority.”

Likewise, the pope, though he does not agree with Williamson’s statements about the Holocaust, should never welcome him back into the fold as one of its leaders. The Catholic Church is a Universal Church that stands for Universal truth.

A certified public accountant might make fraudulent statements that affect his livelihood. He would suffer the consequences of an ill-fated bad decision. Williamson must be accountable for his lie about denying the Holocaust.

So, too, the pope is making a very bad decision. Likewise, there are times when the pope must put his foot down and warn Williamson that his statements are downright “shady” and dishonest. It is, in fact, a lie. So, the pope by appointing him, becomes part of the lie and a major part of his wrongdoing. In my opinion, this appointment will destroy not only Jewish-Catholic relations, but the integrity of the Catholic Church.

Rabbi Marc Rubenstein

Temple Isaiah