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THE QUESTION
Holocaust Deniers
Is it better to challenge or ignore Holocaust deniers such as Catholic Bishop Richard Williamson and Iranian President Mahmoud Amadenijad? Why?
Posted by
Sally Quinn and Jon Meacham on February 4, 2009 3:50 AM
FROM THE PANEL
Holocaust Deniers
The embrace by the Vatican of the anti-Semitic Bishop Richard Williamson is an embarrassment to Christians everywhere.
Posted by John Shelby Spong, on February 11, 2009 4:22 PM
Always Challenge the BIG LIE
If religion or the state have any claim, any claim at all, to speak the truth, then religious or state leaders who tell the BIG LIE must be refuted so loudly and so often that they can no longer speak and be believed.
Posted by Susan Brooks Thistlethwaite, on February 9, 2009 9:11 AM
The Evil Behind Holocaust Deniers
"Never forget" is the admonition Jews often use when referring to the Holocaust. With modern deniers like Iran's Ahmadinejad and Bishop Williamson, it is a useful reminder that others want us to forget for evil ends.
Posted by Cal Thomas, on February 9, 2009 8:27 AM
Silence is Acquiesence
Under no circumstance should people of faith ignore the Holocaust deniers or stay silent while Pope Benedict implicitly validates such beliefs.
Posted by Samuel Rodriguez, on February 9, 2009 7:25 AM
Confrontation not Conciliation
The Holy Father's initial failure to confront Williamson's anti-Semitism had the unintended effect of amplifying the schismatic Bishop's most extreme pronouncements much in the way that sound echoes and reverberates in the quiet of an empty building.
Posted by Mathew N. Schmalz, on February 9, 2009 4:51 AM
Benedict Undermining His Own Legacy
Why is the Vatican putting so much effort into reconciliation with the Society of St. Pius X? The real reason is because these men are bishops. If they were simple priests, the Vatican would not give them the time of day.
Posted by Thomas J. Reese, S.J., on February 6, 2009 12:50 PM
Madness Demands Protest, Not Argument
Denial of the holocaust does not have the status of an intellectual position; it is simply an insult. So no, we do not argue. There is no arguing with madness. Instead we protest. We demand decency.
Posted by David Wolpe, on February 6, 2009 9:01 AM
Freedom of Speech Includes Holocaust Deniers
Holocaust deniers have the right to their opinion, just like any one else does. They have the right to publicly declare their opinions, to publish them, and promote them. In response, the rest of us have the right, even the duty, to disagree with them, and to take them to task for shoddy history, or religious/racist prejudice.
Posted by Pamela K. Taylor, on February 6, 2009 8:08 AM
Best Not to Dignify Holocaust Deniers
We are not to dignify any Holocaust denier.
Posted by Elie Wiesel, on February 6, 2009 6:33 AM
On Pitying the Fool: Dealing with Holocaust Deniers
By talking to the fool and offering to restore communion to him, the Pope appeared to make light of the wickedness and folly. The Vatican had to quickly acknowledge this danger and clarify that no bishop could be in full communion who wickedly denied the reality and horror of the Holocaust.
Posted by John Mark Reynolds, on February 6, 2009 3:47 AM
Engaging Holocaust Deniers is Betraying Truth, Friends
The refusal of Holocaust deniers to face the facts of the horrendous crimes against the Jewish people means that we cannot hold out an olive branch to them without betraying our Jewish friends.
Posted by Richard Mouw, on February 6, 2009 2:00 AM
Grace & Truth: Hand-in-Hand
Pope Benedict is trying to reconcile a group of Catholics who have been out of communion with the Church. Bishop Williamson happens to be part of that group. The fact that he is delusional and a victim of his own brand of self-righteous finger-pointing and bigotry, although unfortunate, is purely a coincidence.
Posted by Matt Maher, on February 6, 2009 12:00 AM
Ignore Holocaust Deniers, Except...
In most cases, I would argue that ignoring Holocaust deniers is the best thing to do, as it cuts off their publicity hungry life blood -- but not when it comes to the Head of State.
Posted by Julia Neuberger, on February 5, 2009 7:30 AM
Holocaust Denial Is Not Just a Quirk To Be Ignored
Holocaust denial is not just a harmless human quirk; it is founded upon vicious and calculated propaganda and promoted for malicious political, racial and religious ends. Those who deny the Holocaust should not just be ignored, but hunted and persecuted.
Posted by Adin Steinsaltz, on February 5, 2009 12:18 AM
Not All Holocaust Denial Is Equal
A total ban on engaging Holocaust deniers is a convenient way to ignore the real challenge of engaging people with ugly views. And those are usually the most important people to engage. The real choice one has to make is which deniers to ignore and which to engage.
Posted by Brad Hirschfield, on February 4, 2009 7:39 AM
Holocaust Deniers, as Enemies of Public Fact, are Enemies of Truth
Benedict is a good man, a competent scholar, and a faithful celebrant in all the holy orders of the Roman Catholic Church. But, like everybody else, popes sometimes make disastrous decisions with consequences the size of their power, in their case monarchic. How refreshing it would be were Benedict to repent of this disastrous decision!
Posted by Willis E. Elliott, on February 4, 2009 12:16 AM
Holocaust Deniers Living In Denial
When it comes to Holocaust deniers, I think the deliberately ignorant can best be neutralized by the sane maintaining silence.
Posted by Arun Gandhi, on February 3, 2009 3:18 PM
FEATURED COMMENTS
DrViking: I put any Pastors or leaders who are Holocaust Deniers into the same category as those who deny the Resurrection of Jesus. They are dangero...
FrPeter: I believe that we must confront people who would deny this historical truth. That being said we must confront them in truth and love. As f...
