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What's The Point?
By
Norm Geras on the Vatican asking Williamson to recant:
If Williamson recants on demand, as it were, in order to be able to 'claim admission to episcopal functions in the church', the chances that his recantation will reflect a genuine change of mind and heart are small, to put it mildly. An insincere recantation is like an apology given only because it is asked for and without genuine contrition - not worth much. But it's worse than that. Not only is what the Vatican asks for pointless, it's an attempt at coercing belief; and even though Richard Williamson's present beliefs regarding the fate of the Jews in Nazi Europe are repugnant, the insistent demand that he change them (or else) is also repugnant.
It's an odd move in terms of the canon law the Vatican referred to as the reason for its original decision. And no one will or should believe Williamson if he obeys.
(Photo: A multiple exposure photo shows Pope Benedict XVI in the Aula Nervi at Vatican during his weekly general audience on February 4, 2009. By Vincenzo Pinto/AFP/Getty.)
