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not wish to insert itself into the inter-
nal processes of the diverse Catholic
Church',' but said that the "latest step,
coming on the eve of international
Holocaust Remembrance Day, and as
the reality of the Holocaust is being
increasingly denied and distorted, rein-
forces a negative and troubling trend:'
Abraham Foxman, the ADL's nation-
al director, was more ominous.
"This decision undermines the
strong relationship between Catholics
and Jews that flourished under Pope
John Paul II and which Pope Benedict
XVI said he would continue when he
came into his papacy," Foxman said in
a statement. "We are stunned that the
Vatican has ignored our concerns by
welcoming back into the fold a bishop
who denies the Holocaust and rejects
the seminal reforms of Vatican II."
Seeking to tamp down the criti-
cism, the pope, in his weekly audience
at the Vatican on Feb. 4, affirmed his
"full and unquestionable solidarity"
with the Jewish people and expressed
hope that the Holocaust "will induce
humanity to reflect on the unpredict-
able power of hate when it conquers
the heart of man:'
The flap echoes the concern aroused
in the Jewish community when
Benedict in 2007 allowed the recita-
tion of the Latin, or Tridentine, Mass,
whose Good Friday liturgy includes a
prayer for Jewish conversion. Then as
now, the pope's decision was under-
stood as an effort to reach out to the
same group of traditionalists that
rejected the council's reforms.
In 2007, Benedict described the
Latin Mass decision as an effort to
achieve "an interior reconciliation"
within the Church.
Rabbi David Rosen, the AJC's direc-
tor of interreligious affairs and the
chairman of IJCIC, said it is unclear
\vhether the pope has determined that
he is willing to pay a price in Jewish-
Catholic harmony to achieve his unifi-
cation objectives or whether he simply
has a penchant for unilateralism.
"I believe it is the second, both
because some would accuse me of
wishful thinking; but here there has
really been a pattern of a lack of con-
sultation:' Rosen said. "He appears to
do things without understanding their
full implications."
In a letter to Cardinal Walter Kasper,
the Vatican's point person on relations
with the Jewish people, Rosen request-
ed that Williamson be asked to retract
his position and apologize.
Kasper has said publicly that
Williamson's comments are "unaccept-
able" and Bishop Bernard Fellay, the
leader of the society, said his group
does not share Williamson's view.
In a response to Rosen on Monday,
Kasper wrote that he had brought
the issue to the attention of Vatican
authorities.
"I am sure you will under-
stand;' Kasper wrote, "that Bishop
Williamson's ideas do not represent
the position of the Church or of the
Holy See."
Last week, the German Bishops
Conference asked the pope to reinstate
Williamson's excommunication. Later
in the week, Williamson was removed
as head of a seminary in Argentina.
Father Christian Bouchacourt, the
head of the Latin American chapter
of the Catholic Society St. Pius X, said,
"Monsignor Williamson's statements
do not in any way reflect the position
of our congregation."
The dismissal came on the heels of
a conversation between the pope and
German Chancellor Angela Merkel,
who has been publicly critical of the
pope's actions. Ei
Eight Over Eighty Honorees
The community will gather on Sunday,
May 17, at the Jewish Community
Center in West Bloomfield for a
brunch and ceremony to pay tribute
to eight very special and inspiring
people, all over 80, who have dedicated
their lives to the Jewish value of tikkun
olam, repairing the world.
This year's honorees are Warren
Coville, Merle Harris, Herbert
Kaufman, Irving Laker, Ann Newman,
Rabbi Irving Schnipper, Marvin Talan
and Milton Zussman.
Judges select honorees from nomi-
nations by family members, friends
and community groups. Eight Over
Eighty raises money for the Jewish
Apartment & Services' Quality of Life
Fund, which provides all the extras in
the building that are not covered by a
resident's rent.
Eight Over Eighty, now in its 15th year,
is sponsored by Hospice of Michigan,
Huron Valley Sinai Hospital and media
sponsor the Detroit Jewish News.
For sponsorship and advertising
information, contact JAS Marketing
Director Pete Wurdock at (248) 592-
1101 or at PWurdock@Jasmi.org .
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A32
February 12 • 2009
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