But that’s not surprising because the order to which he belongs is a virulently antisemitic “traditionalist” group that pines for the good old days when heretics could be tortured and executed, women knew their place, and Jews were Christ-killers.

Charles,

Are you taking it a step further (beyond Williamson and his outrageous comments and SSPX literature) and falling into the stereotype that ALL “traditionalists” -those who advocate for a pre-Vat II tridentine rite and ad orientem — are a bunch of subhuman, misogynist, antisemites?

If so Pope Pius XII, a pre-Vat II “traditionalist” himself (who lived in a day where high necked and long sleeved black dresses, mantilla, and veil for women were Church protocol), would disagree with you:

Historical records show that Pius XII acted as a link to the British government for a number of German dissidents desiring to overthrow Hitler. The Pope went beyond his usual caution, and maintained these contacts until the German invasion of Denmark and Norway in April 1940. The following month, when the Germans invaded the Low Countries, the Pope sent telegrams to the leaders of these besieged nations with his prayers for their deliverance. Soon after, Mussolini joined Hitler. When Nazis occupied Rome in September 1943, the Pope endeavored to save as many Jews as possible. He immediately issued directives to all convents and monasteries to open their doors to protect Jews. Meanwhile, Pope Pius XII invited Jews and other refugees to join the Vatican Palatine Guards. In a few months, their number increased from four hundred to four thousand.

Everywhere in Europe, persecuted people, the Jews especially, appealed to Pius XII. When some five hundred Jews embarked at Bratislava on a steamer for Palestine, their ship tried to enter the seaport of Istanbul, but was refused permission to land. Captured by an Italian patrol boat, the Jews were imprisoned in a camp at Rhodes. One of the prisoners managed to appeal to Pius XII for help. Thanks to the Pope’s intervention, unknown to the Axis, the refugees were transferred to an improvised camp (Ferramonti- Tarsia) in Southern Italy, where they were found safe three years later, in December 1943.

—and—

Zolli devoted an entire chapter in his memoirs to the German occupation of Rome and praised the Pope’s leadership: “… The people of Rome loathed the Nazis and had intense pity for the Jews. They willingly assisted in the evacuation of the Jewish population into remote villages, where they were concealed and protected by Christian families. Christian families in the heart of Rome accepted Jews. There was money in the treasury for the support of destitute refugees thus hidden. The Holy Father sent by hand a letter to the bishops instructing them to lift the enclosure from convents and monasteries, so that they could become refuges for the Jews. I know of one convent where the Sisters slept in the basement, giving up their beds to Jewish refugees. In face of this charity, the fate of so many of the persecuted is especially tragic.”