Leading article
Relates to Lefebvrists face crisis as bishop is exposed as ‘dangerous’ anti-Semite
5 March 2008

We at The Catholic Herald have known for some time that Richard Williamson, one of the four SSPX bishops ordained by Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre in 1988, is an anti-Semite. But we have waited until now to expose the full viciousness of his views because it seemed possible that respectable members of the Society would be reconciled with the Holy See, and that Williamson et al would depart for their own schismatic denomination.

That has not happened. There have been negotiations between the Vatican and Bishop Bernard Fellay, Superior-General of the Society of St Pius X, following the Holy Father's liberation of the classical Mass last year. They have yet to bear fruit. This lack of progress is depressing, though understandable, given the complexity of the theological and juridical issues involved. What is not understandable is the refusal of the SSPX to condemn Bishop Williamson when the Herald confronted it with his statements this week. The SSPX, according to the general secretary of its headquarters in Switzerland, "has no duty or ability to make a pronouncement" on the authenticity of the Protocols of the Elders of Zion.

The Protocols are a century-old forgery that is consistently cited by neo-Nazis to justify the Holocaust. Adolf Hitler believed in their authenticity; so does Osama bin Laden. For the SSPX to refuse to comment on the authenticity of the forgery that one of its founders is propagating casts doubt on the good faith of the entire organisation. Is the Society also neutral on Williamson's claims that 9/11 was the product of a Jewish-dominated world conspiracy? What we can say is that, for years, this bishop has been spreading anti-Semitic lies and the SSPX has failed to expel him from its ranks.

Many devout Catholics, deprived of access to the traditional liturgy by intolerant bishops, worship at Lefebvrist churches; in parts of France, SSPX Masses have been the only alternative to wildly self-indulgent liberal services that are scarcely recognisable as Catholic. But Pope Benedict XVI has brought the old Missal back into the mainstream of Catholic worship and, God willing, various bishops will soon abandon their efforts to block his reforms. Communities of traditionalist priests loyal to the Holy See are flourishing (and they would flourish in England and Wales, too, if only they were given the opportunity).

Let us repeat what we said last week: there is really no excuse to continue to belong to the Society of St Pius X. Bishop Fellay's failure to condemn Bishop Williamson has brought shame on his organisation. It is time for moderate Lefebvrists to return to the Church - and for us to welcome them joyfully.