This is a disgrace. Pope Benedict should rescind the reinstatement of Bishop Richard Williamson.

JERUSALEM (AFP) — Israel’s Yad Vashem Holocaust memorial and the Simon Wiesenthal Centre on Sunday slammed a Holocaust-denying English bishop whose ex-communication has been cancelled by Pope Benedict XVI.

“It is scandalous that someone of this stature in the Church denies the Holocaust,” the institution said in a statement, referring to Bishop Richard Williamson who has publicly denied the murder of six million Jews during World War II.

“Denial of the Holocaust not only insults the survivors, memory of the victims and the righteous among the nations who risked their lives to rescue the Jews, it is a brutal attack on truth,” Yad Vashem said.

“What kind of message is this sending regarding the Church’s attitude toward the Holocaust?”

Just in case you might be tempted to believe the media are exaggerating Williamson’s Holocaust denial, here’s video:

Youtube Video

(Hat tip: NY Nana.)

UPDATE at 1/25/09 12:10:04 pm:

Bishop Williamson is also a 9/11 Troofer.

Williamson supports conspiracy theories regarding the assassination of President Kennedy and the collapse of the Twin Towers, denying that the latter were terrorist attacks but were instead staged by the U.S. government.

UPDATE at 1/25/09 12:32:57 pm:

To clarify a point: Williamson has not been reinstated as a Catholic bishop, he’s been “un-excommunicated,” which allows him to receive communion in the Catholic church. And it’s still wrong.