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James Martin, S.J.August 16, 2009

Two important stories that you might have missed lately, which touch on two very dark topics.  The first is from the Associated Press regarding the Vatican's response to Bishop Richard Williamson's apologies for his statements on the Holocaust.  As you recall, as part of his re-entry into the Catholic church (the bishop is a member of the Society of St. Pius X, which had rejected the reforms of the Second Vatican Council and the authority of the post-conciliar popes) he was asked to repudiate his statements denying certain aspects of the death of Jews in the Holocaust.  The headline says it all: "Vatican rejects apology in Holocaust case."  (Just a few weeks back, Pope Benedict XVI referred to concentration camps as "extreme symbols of evil" and hell on earth.) The second story comes from The Telegraph's website, quoting the American Papist.  That headline telegraphs the story about Fr. Marcial Maciel, the founder of the Legionaries of Christ.  "Legionaries of Christ Founder May Have Had Six Children, Say Reports."  American Papist has been following the latter story assiduously over the past few months. 

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