Buenos Aires – The Catholic bishop who caused controversy for denying the Nazis used gas chambers to kill Jews during World War II, now faces legal charges in Argentina, officials said Tuesday.
Subscribe to our Daily Roundup Email
Richard Williamson — the British-born bishop whose excommunication was reversed by Pope Benedict XVI in January — is now the subject of a complaint before an Argentine federal court.
The 68-year-old bishop stands accused of denying the Holocaust, according to evidence presented before Judge Julian Ercolini on Tuesday.
Williamson was expelled on Monday from his seminary at La Reja, 40 kilometers (25 miles) south of Buenos Aires.
In addition to Tuesday’s complaint, he may face further charges.
The head of Argentina’s National Institute Against Discrimination (INADI), Maria Jose Lubertino, said Williamson would also have to correct or confirm his claims.
“He is obliged to clarify the veracity of his claims. We are going to make a formal legal complaint and he may face up to three years in prison,” Lubertino said.
The institute has asked for copies of a Swedish television interview in which Williamson negates the existence of gas chambers in the extermination of six million Jews, Roma, and others during the regime led by Adolph Hitler.
“There was not one Jew killed by the gas chambers. It was all lies, lies, lies,” he told interviewers, while conceding that “200,000 to 300,000” Jews perished in concentration camps.
Those comments prompted a tidal wave of criticism of the Catholic Church, when it emerged that German-born Pope Benedict had annulled his excommunication just days later.
Williamson has not commented publicly about the controversy except to tell German news magazine Der Spiegel that he would study the historical record before recanting those views.
He was originally excommunicated for being ordained without the Vatican’s permission.
This is an amazing development. This is Argentine where Nazis took refuge and became citizens. Today, they are indicting a bishop for denying the Holocaust!!!
Oomayafayla liorah!
It’s not good that Argentina has such laws. Next thing you know they’ll be indicting Jews for denying that the Dir Yassin or Jenin massacres happened, or for libelling Germans by making up stories about a Holocaust.
And I have to wonder why this is all happening now. He’s been public about his views for a long time, and his seminary had to have known about them. Why are they suddenly offended?
This Bishop also says that 9/11 was not caused by aircraft being driven into the WTC but by explosions being set off in the building. I think he has some mental health issues to deal with.
What a wonderful turn of events, that a country who harbored the most vile of criminals of huminity can now say they are revulsed by the action of this piece of garbage. Remeber Argentina is a predominetly Catholic country and for this to happen is amazing. This action would never have taken place during the days of Juan & Evita Peron, what a long way they have come. B”H. And to #2 your logic eludes comprehension, your statements make absouletly no sense what so ever.
It states towards the end of days Emes will reign! We are now seeing an unprecedented turn of events in the entire world! All the liars, cheaters, holocoust deniers, are being exposed and PUNISHED! It is all coming together. Have you not noticed? There will be nothing hidden, nor anything covered up. There will be no denying for the evidence will prove beyond a doubt. What with the internet, you tube, computers,there is instant proof no one can deny HE “NEVER SAID ANYTHING” Yiden let us be a light “unto the nations”. Let us live honestly and be an example for the world, for we are very very close…… Moshiach is coming!!