The Rev. Richard Williamson, a priest associated with a breakaway Catholic sect, passed away on Wednesday in Margate, England. He was 84. His death, following a cerebral hemorrhage, was confirmed by the Society of St. Pius X, the schismatic Catholic sect of which he had been a member for many years.
Williamson gained notoriety for his antisemitic statements and Holocaust denial, which led to his excommunication by the Vatican on two separate occasions. The Society of St. Pius X was founded in 1970 by Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre, who rejected the reforms of the Second Vatican Council, including the repudiation of doctrinal antisemitism.
Father Williamson was ordained a bishop by the society, but the Vatican never recognized his ordination and excommunicated him along with other members of the sect in 1988. Despite his controversial views, Williamson remained a prominent figure within the Society of St. Pius X until his death.
7 Comments
Donatello
This is a wake-up call for all of us to reject any form of antisemitism and hatred that Williamson represented.
Michelangelo
Goodbye to a disgraceful figure who tarnished the image of the church with his vile statements.
Raphael
His life reminds us that we can learn from all experiences, even the ones filled with controversy.
Leonardo
Let’s focus on healing and moving forward without the toxic influence of people like him in our society.
Michelangelo
If only his ideas could die with him. We must continue to fight against the ideologies he stood for.
Muchacha
He may have left this world but the ideas he propagated could linger. We need to be stronger than ever against hate.
Bella Ciao
Honestly, I won't waste a moment reflecting on his life. He was a divisive figure with a hateful agenda.