Bishop Will 'Look Into' Holocaust Record

Under pressure to recant his Holocaust denial, Bishop Richard Williamson promises to crack open the history books. “Historical evidence is at issue, not emotions," he told Der Spiegel. "And if I find this evidence, I will correct myself. But that will take time." Williamson said his opinions were based on 1980s research—the Leuchter report—that “seemed plausible to me,” but, he is told, "has been scientifically refuted."

“I plan now to look into it,” he said, but “will not travel to Auschwitz.” Williamson also discussed the thaw in relations between the Vatican and his ultra-conservative Society of Saint Pius X, evidenced by the recent reversal of his excommunication. “We are returning to the center," he said. "That's the way it is for us conservatives: we are proved right, as long as we wait long enough.” (More Richard Williamson stories.)