The Holocaust Is Its Scope

"Bishop Offers Apology for Holocaust Remarks"
A6, Friday 2/27/09,
By Rachel Donadio

Bishop Williamson doesn’t offer an apology for his Holocaust denial, but he does offer an apology for his Holocaust remarks, (“to all souls that took honest scandal,” which is of the “I’m sorry that people were offended” variety. This could be a headline from Bishop Williamson.

In summing up the Bishop’s wrongdoing, Donadio writes “Bishop Williamson denied the existence of the Nazi gas chambers and the scope of the Holocaust.” Perhaps he didn't quite deny the Holocaust, as much as denying its scope?

One can’t make what one wants out of the Holocaust (only 300,000 Jews were killed; there were no gas chambers) and still call it the Holocaust. In fact, it’s unclear if the Bishop even subscribes to the term “Holocaust” – which is something attendant with specific facts and figures.

Donadio should’ve instead avoided the scope remark, which lends credence to the view that the accepted term "Holocaust" may mean different things to different people. She should've moved up the Bishop's saying that 300,000 Jews were killed by the Nazis during the second World War.

That the “Vatican also said that Benedict was not aware of Bishop Williamson’s remarks when he decided to revoke his excommunication” is an important point – whether true or not – that has hasn't received attention.