Bishop Richard Williamson, currently under fire for not recanting statements denying the existence of Nazi gas chambers, returned to his home country of England.

But the Associated Press shows his trip wasn’t easy - media stormed Williamson before he boarded his plane to London.

The Bishop made no comments to the reporters who questioned him about his Holocaust beliefs.

Hello, I’m Charlotte Bellis and you’re watching Newsy.com.

Last Thursday, the Argentinean government gave Williamson 10 days to leave the country or face expulsion. Attention first came to Williamson when the Pope lifted an excommunication order against him. It was later the Holocaust controversy became public.

We’re bringing you reactions from The BBC, European Jewish Press, The Malaysian Insider, and Times Online.

The BBC replays comments the Bishop made while doing an interview last year.

“I think the most serious conclude that between two and three hundred Jews perished in Nazi concentration camps, but not one of them by gassing in a gas chamber." (BBC)


The BBC also reports that Argentina “has one of the world’s largest Jewish populations outside of Israel”. The Argentinean government said the Bishop’s comments...  

“deeply shocked Argentine society, the Jewish people and all of humanity”

The European Jewish Press talked to the director and founder of the British Holocaust Centre about their take on Williamson’s return to England.

“[T]he UK must not be a safe haven for him and people like him.  Denying the Holocaust is not the problem: the real problem is the anti-Semitism that lies behind it.  Bishop Williamson is not a Holocaust denier.  He is an anti-Semite who denies the Holocaust.  It is never the other way around.” (European Jewish Press)

Williamson is a member of the religious order called Society of St Pius X. The Malaysian Insider talked to the head of the Society in South America, who said he hoped the scandal and attention on Williamson would now be over.

“This has damaged the society and it has damaged the Pope” (The Malaysian Insider)

Times Online reports Williamson is getting advice on how to present his views on the Holocaust. David Irving, a British writer, offered Williamson suggestions after facing a similar controversy with his Holocaust beliefs.

“He is not a Holocaust denier. Like me, he does not buy the whole package.” ... “About a week ago I sent him a lengthy e-mail telling him what he could safely say. He should not be quoted as saying things which are not tenable. I sent two pages telling him what is incontrovertible fact. I got a message back thanking me.” (Times Online)

We invite you to share your comments on this story on Newsy.com and visit our sources for more information.

World News

Controversial Bishop Returns to the U.K.

February 25, 2009
Bishop Richard Williamson returns to England after Argentina’s threat of expulsion for his comments made about the Holocaust. Newsy.com keeps track of reactions from global media.
   
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