The New Democratic MPs are calling on His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI to reverse his decision to reinstate Bishop Richard Williamson.

Joe Comartin (Windsor—Tecumseh), Charlie Angus (Timmins—James Bay), and Tony Martin (Sault Ste. Marie) have sent a letter to the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops asking that Bishop Williamson not be permitted to perform any ministry in any Canadian diocese until this controversy is resolved. The MPs have also written a letter to the Vatican condemning the decision to reverse Williamson’s excommunication.

“Bishop Williamson’s continued denial of the full extent of the Holocaust and his refusal to apologize for his remarks are completely unacceptable,” said Angus. “Canada needs to speak loudly and clearly on this issue.”

Bishop Williamson has publicly stated that he does not believe that gas chambers were used to kill Jews during the Holocaust, and that no more than 300,000 were killed during that genocide.

New Democrats want Canadian Catholic leaders to join them in sending the message to the Vatican that this kind of thinking is outdated and intolerable.