The Holocaust-denying Bishop

[Sean]

There's an interesting interview out with the Catholic Bishop, Richard Williamson, whose excommunication over Holocaust denial was just repealed by the Pope. It's no coincidence that his name happens to be "Dick" - the guy seriously sounds like an ignorant dick to me, trying to justify anti-semitism with quotes from scripture and such:

SPIEGEL: Your position on Judaism is consistently anti-Semitic.

Williamson: St. Paul put it this way: The Jews are beloved for the sake of Our Father, but our enemies for the sake of the gospel.

Way to go, Bishop!

[BeautifulBurnout]

I was pretty stunned when this happened. My understanding is that he hasn't retained his Bishop status, although I may be wrong.

I realise the Catholic Church is concerned about factionalisation, but they shouldn't be giving any kind of platform to anti-semitism. Not good.

[myrrh]

To deny the Holocaust is pretty stupid all around.

However, the parts on calling him anti-Semitic doesn't jive with me. Why is he called anti-Semitic when he is following what the gospels say? To say this, then all Christians are anti-Semitic- which sounds ever dumber since Jesus was a Jew! The Jews denied the Jesus was the Messiah, there is no arguing this. Therefore, when you come down to it, they are enemies to the gospel, just like Paul said.

I have serious issues with the word anti-Semitic because it is used today as a term for anyone who criticizes anything Jewish or Israeli.

As a side note, I don't believe that Christianity today is the religion taught by Jesus. Rather it is the doctrine created by Paul. Nor do I advocate what Paul says anywhere in the New Testament, as he went against all the Disciples with his thoughts and ideas. A fact which is interesting, since who would know more about what Jesus taught then the actual people who were with him while he preached. However, from the perspective of a Catholic Bishop, who uses the gospel as his code of belief, then there is no denying that Williamson is correct with his belief in this regard (not the belief of denying the Holocaust).

[Strangelet]

Originally Posted by myrrh

I have serious issues with the word anti-Semitic because it is used today as a term for anyone who criticizes anything Jewish or Israeli.

I agree when it comes to israel's foreign policy, or jewish americans hijacking my own country's foreign policy. I *strongly* disagree that it isn't disgustingly hateful to point to an ethnic group and claim my religion sayz you're evil. i don't know how you could be more anti semitic.

[Sean]

Originally Posted by myrrh

To deny the Holocaust is pretty stupid all around.

However, the parts on calling him anti-Semitic doesn't jive with me. Why is he called anti-Semitic when he is following what the gospels say?

It strikes me that he's not actually "following what the gospels say" as much as he is trying to use the gospel to justify his anti-semitic views. That's why he's called anti-semitic.

Originally Posted by myrrh

I have serious issues with the word anti-Semitic because it is used today as a term for anyone who criticizes anything Jewish or Israeli.

I'm curious why you have a particular problem with the overuse of the charge of anti-semitism. I would say that there are many terms being overused these days - sexist, racist, homophobe - all applied to people far too freely over issues that often aren't actually rooted in sexism, racism, or homophobia. Do you feel that labels like these are over-used as well, or do you mainly just feel that way about "anti-semitism"?

[myrrh]

I want to reply to this, but I have to fly to Brussels, and will be back in a few days.

[Strangelet]

Originally Posted by myrrh

I want to reply to this, but I have to fly to Brussels, and will be back in a few days.

nice. go get a leffe blonde on tap.

oh wait....

[myrrh]

Originally Posted by Sean

It strikes me that he's not actually "following what the gospels say" as much as he is trying to use the gospel to justify his anti-semitic views. That's why he's called anti-semitic.

I'm curious why you have a particular problem with the overuse of the charge of anti-semitism. I would say that there are many terms being overused these days - sexist, racist, homophobe - all applied to people far too freely over issues that often aren't actually rooted in sexism, racism, or homophobia. Do you feel that labels like these are over-used as well, or do you mainly just feel that way about "anti-semitism"?

To be honest, I didn't think that he was using the gospel like you say, from just reading that article. However, now that you mentioned it can be taken to appear that way. Or we can read into it that way. If he is doing this, then I agree with you.

I have a problem with the overuse of a lot words, like you say. The particular reason for my dislike of term anti-semitic is that it is now used solely for the Jews and Israel. When in fact, the Semitic people consist of much larger category then just Jews.

And then there is another issue, that being that Jews are the only people who are classified as a race by their religion. Therefor, if one was to criticize Judaism, then are often called anti-semitic. When in reality, they may have nothing wrong with people who are Semitic. This leads into what Strangelet said:

"I *strongly* disagree that it isn't disgustingly hateful to point to an ethnic group and claim my religion sayz you're evil. i don't know how you could be more anti semitic."

If there is a religion that says such a thing, then I agree with you. However, if a religion says "because these people do x, y, z... they are evil". I have no issues with this. But we can't use this logic against Jews because, like I said, they are the only group of people who are classified as an ethnic group based upon their belief, instead of their origins.

[Sean]

Originally Posted by myrrh

I have a problem with the overuse of a lot words, like you say. The particular reason for my dislike of term anti-semitic is that it is now used solely for the Jews and Israel. When in fact, the Semitic people consist of much larger category then just Jews.

That actually bugs me too.

[//\/\/]

"As a side note, I don't believe that Christianity today is the religion taught by Jesus. Rather it is the doctrine created by Paul."

Very much in agreement with that.