"Vatican Heals Itself, Whatever the Consequences"

"Pope Embraces 4 Rebel Bishops"
A1, Sunday 1/25/09,
By Rachel Donadio

Four “schismatic” bishops had their excommunications revoked by Pope Benedict XVI. One of the bishops is a Holocaust denier. The article appropriately appears on Sunday’s front page, above the fold.

However, rather than seeing the decision as possibly fomenting anti-Semitism throughout the Catholic world and beyond, the decision is described as, first and foremost, “provided fresh fuel for critics” who disapprove of Benedict’s revocation of the Second Vatican Council’s reforms. One of these reforms was to absolve the Jews for Jesus’ death.

This is a valid way to look at Benedict’s moves, of course, but it overlooks the demonizing effects on millions of people’s views of Jews, a humanitarian issue. This is given a short mention, and cabined as “jeopardizing 50 years of Vatican efforts to ease tensions with Jewish groups.” No doubt Jewish groups are upset, but there should be reference to the detrimental effects on Jewish communities. The story is much bigger than the offense to Abe Foxman.

Another questions unasked is, what exactly is a more “traditional” Vatican? Are there others ways, aside from legitimizing Holocaust denial, to reinstate a more traditional, less open, way of the Vatican?

A smart observation is made by Gillis, who writes that the move is about healing “our own house, whatever the consequences are externally.” Indeed.