Photo: DPA

Prosecutors pursue charges against Holocaust denying Catholic bishop

Published: 15 Oct 09 16:55 CET
Online: http://www.thelocal.de/national/20091015-22603.html

Prosecutors in the Bavarian city of Regensburg have submitted a request to press charges against the controversial Catholic bishop Richard Williamson for inciting hatred by denying the Holocaust.

A judge will now decide if expedited legal proceedings against the member of the ultraconservative Society of St. Pius X go forward. The process can only be used when there is no hearing required and the defendant does not face time in jail.

“It’s heading in the direction of a fine,” said Johann Plöd, the president of the Regensburg district court.

One year ago, Williamson unleashed a storm of outrage by claiming the Nazis didn’t murder Jews in gas chambers and that only 200,000 to 300,000 Jewish people had been killed in concentration camps. Because he made his comments to Swedish television while at a Pius brotherhood seminary in Zaitzkofen, Bavaria, the bishop can face criminal charges in Germany.

Prosecutors started their investigation into the incident January, however, it has been hampered by the refusal of Swedish officials to compel the TV journalist to testify as a witness.

The controversy surrounding Williamson engulfed the entire Catholic Church at the beginning of the year after Pope Benedict XVI lifted his excommunication along with that of three other bishops from the Society of St. Pius X. The conservative religious sect rejects the Vatican's teaching on religious freedom and pluralism, including the idea that Jews are the “older brothers” of Christians.

DPA/The Local (news@thelocal.de)

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#1
03:05 October 16, 2009 by bmck
I pray for those whom deny the holocaust. Deniers, therefore

in my view incite prayer, not hatred!

As my dear gandmother says, the world needs just a little more prayer - won't

you join me....Dear Father Mother God.......
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#2
15:01 October 16, 2009 by mid503
"It is error only, and not truth, that shrinks from inquiry."

Thomas Paine
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#3
15:07 October 16, 2009 by DarExc
This guys an idiot, we pay way too much attention to these people. Should I be arrested if I start yelling the sky is crimson red? 99.99% of people know it happened, put energy into something else and let the crazies think whatever they want.
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#4
15:48 October 16, 2009 by So36
Democracy? Not verboten.
Report abuse »
#5
15:52 October 16, 2009 by mixxim
It seems that he is wrong, the Israelis appear to have learned well from Hitler and are using their skills against the Palestinians and Arab nations around them. But I forgot GOD gave them the country! The chosen people can commit atricities without worrying about criticism or their designated places in Heaven.
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#6
15:58 October 16, 2009 by Steven192
GOD gave them their country?

Well that should put and end to all those debates and arguments then.

God - pictured earlier.
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#7
16:42 October 16, 2009 by Bipa
A judge will now decide if expedited legal proceedings against the member of the ultraconservative Society of St. Pius X go forward. The process can o…
What bothers me is that a person could be presumed guilty and fined without a hearing through this expedited legal proceeding. Anyone else see a conflict with the general process?
Report abuse »
#8
17:45 October 16, 2009 by Lorelei
The Bishop is guilty of nothing more than of saying that which millions of us think viz that the numbers are legitimately up for discussion.
Claiming that 200-300 thousand were murdered, i.e. one 20th of the 5-6 million estimated, is not a legitimate and informed questioning of the figures. It's a blatant denial of what happened. People like him need to be prosecuted because they're speaking from the same hatred that put people in the gas chambers and ovens in the first place.

The figure commonly used is the six million quoted by Adolf Eichmann, a senior SS official. Most research confirms that the number of victims was between five and six million. Early calculations range from 5.1 million (Professor Raul Hilberg) to 5.95 million (Jacob Leschinsky). More recent research, by Professor Yisrael Gutman and Dr. Robert Rozett in the Encyclopedia of the Holocaust, estimates the Jewish losses at 5.59?5.86 million, and a study headed by Dr. Wolfgang Benz presents a range from 5.29 million to six million.http://www1.yadvashem.org/Odot/prog/index_before_change_table.asp?gate=5-3
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#9
17:46 October 16, 2009 by Timmeh
Claiming that 200-300 thousand were murdered, i.e. one 20th of the 5-6 million estimated, is not a legitimate and informed questioning of the figures. It's a blatant denial of what happened. People like hi…
I disagree, freedom of speech is more important. Anyone should be able to think, and say, what they want....let society judge them.
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#10
17:55 October 16, 2009 by Lorelei
There's a difference between expressing a personal opinion and hate speech. This is hate speech in the guise of an "opinion".
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#11
18:00 October 16, 2009 by Timmeh
Denying well documented events in history isn't hate speech, it's stupidity. Irrespective it certainly shouldn't be a gaolable offence.
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#12
08:50 October 17, 2009 by HerrDinksbumps
Whether the Holocaust happened or not is pathetically irrelevant.. What matters is that it plays too central a role in the modern moral consciousness, and ultimately hinders our development as a species and culture. Think about it, the Holocaust is THE epicenter of our entire moral system. What could be worse? Godwin's Law - bring up Nazis or the Holocaust, and the conversation comes to and end.. I'm not an anti-semite, but I'm sick of hearing about the Holocaust, do NOT think it deserves this ... "status" in our moral universe, or to be used as leverage by Jews - which it is. Yes it was awful, but awful things happen every day.

We as a species have huge problems to deal with on this planet - overpopulation being one of the biggest IMO. Because of the Holocuast we don't even allow ourselves to think about it.. Meanwhile the population is and has been for a while now exploding at like vertical growth.. This of course strains resources, leads to more starving people, etc.. And of course resources and starvation lead to war.. Same with something like letting retards have kids.. Even considering making a comment critical of it raises the specter of Naziism.. Our cultural obsession with the Holocaust - this stupid story is a reflection of it - is a dangerous hindrance.
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#13
19:02 October 17, 2009 by mid503
"In a time of universal deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act."

George Orwell
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#14
09:17 October 19, 2009 by Lorelei
Whether the Holocaust happened or not is pathetically irrelevant.. ...I'm not an anti-semite, but ...
That says it all.
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#15
09:35 October 19, 2009 by Owain Glyndwr
Buy "Mein Kampf"..........VERBOTEN

Deny Holocaust..............VERBOTEN

Everything is verboten.

Democracy?
it is not VERBOTEN to buy or sell Mein Kampf in Germany. It simply impossible to buy a German language version in Germany because the state of Bavaria currently holds the rights to the book in Germany and has so far refused to allow a reprint. There are old copies in libraries, I believe, that you can read if you so desire but I wouldn't bother, it is such a painfully badly written book full of rants that go off in more tangents than a TT debate on anti smoking laws. I believe the book will be out of copyright soon so will be free for publication by anyone.
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#16
09:45 October 19, 2009 by chris999
only 200,000 to 300,000 Jewish people had been killed in concentration camps.
ONLY 200,000 to 300,000 - well that's OK then we can forget it!!

Is he still a bishop? Throw the book at him - preferably the bible so he can actually try reading it!
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#17
10:01 October 19, 2009 by Binaural
Denying well documented events in history isn't hate speech, it's stupidity. Irrespective it certainly shouldn't be a gaolable offence.
Much as I think this guy is a ignorant scumbag who's trying to use his position to propagate lies, I don't think this should be the sort of of…[/quote]There are reasons to proscribe particular kinds of speech for reasons other than that they are indefensible - the classic being raising a false fire alarm in a crowded theatre. Don't assume that because it is banned it must be some sort of conspiracy theory. The original intention was to starve far-right groups of publicity at a time when it was desperately needed, and it has done that job well. It may be out of date 50 years later however, although many would like to keep it to deter know-nothings such as this bishop from diluting pretty unambiguous and well-researched history with their rubbish amateur investigations.

Incidentally, as mentioned up-thread all reputable sources, including information from the protagonists, give reasonably similar figures. If you think it's all a lie you desperately need to go and read up on how those statistics were compiled.
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#18
10:19 October 19, 2009 by Lorelei
... After all, he's not trying to get Jews attacked or encourage violence. People will say stupid things, and unless they are trying to incite vio…
The only reason for denying the Holocaust or for claiming that a comparatively miniscule number of people were exterminated is antisemitism. It's not just another stupid but innocuous statement, like denying the moon landings. It's hate speech disguised as an "opinion", which was what put people in the gas chambers and ovens in the first place.
Report abuse »
#19
10:59 October 19, 2009 by Binaural
The only reason for denying the Holocaust or for claiming that a comparatively miniscule number of people were exterminated is antisemitism. It's …
The problem is, having a negative opinion of jews is not a crime even if it's supremely stupid. What did for the jews in the first place was direct action by political leaders with a hateful and racist agenda, not minority opinions held by freaks such as the bishop at hand, and realistically that is where holocaust denial stands these days - a fringe belief by fringe dwellers that lacks the logical power ever to become mainstream. I don't think even you meant to suggest a return to such times would be possible if such asinine statements were again legal, but that is one thing that could be taken from your statement if read literally.

I generally agree with you that this is disguised hate speech, but so long as it remains a weak and covert thing then I do not see why this particular opinion should be illegal when many others just as bad are out there in common usage.
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#20
12:09 October 19, 2009 by Lorelei
[quote name='Binaural' date='19.Oct.2009, 10:59am' timestamp='1255942745' post='1800286'What did for the jews in the first place was direct action by political leaders with a hateful and racist agenda, not minority opinions held by freaks such as the bishop at hand, and realistically that is where holocaust denial stands these days - a fringe belief by fringe dwellers that lacks the logical power ever to become mainstream.[/quote]Extermination of millions would not have been possible without public support and public indifference. You assume that it's a fringe belief, but there are a few posts in this short thread casting doubt on the Holocaust if not actually dismissing it entirely. Antisemitism has been around for centuries among Europeans, so it seems a bit naive to assume that it has almost died out. It is more likely only dormant and could in due course become more acceptable again, if people are sufficiently ignorant about and indifferent to what they see as an historical irrelevance or as something that has been blown out of proportion and maybe didn't even happen. The fact that the Jewish population has been decimated seems like a good reason to stifle antisemitism, rather than dismiss it as an abberation and allow scope for it to flourish again.
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