Pope Benedict XVI Blog

Ehud Olmert criticises anti-Christian statements made on an Israeli TV channel

» 02/23/2009 10:32
ISRAEL - VATICAN

by Arieh Cohen

For the prime minister, “relations with the Vatican and the Christian world are very good.” The satirist said who offended Jesus and Our Lady sought revenge against the Holocaust-denying views of Lefebvrist Bishop Williamson.

Tel Aviv (AsiaNews) - The Israeli Prime Minister, Ehud Olmert, has deplored the blasphemous comments of a television presenter, which offended the Christian citizens of Israel, and occasioned the protest of the Assembly of Catholic Ordinaries of the Holy Land, and a similar statement b the Press Office of the Holy See.

Speaking at the weekly cabinet meeting, Sunday 22 February, the head of government said that, without calling into doubt the right to freedom of expression, good sense should have led to abstaining from giving such offence to Christian fellow-citizens and to their fellow believers throughout the world. "The relations with the Vatican and the Christian world" he said "are very good" and "should not be damaged in this way".

The blasphemous talk, which ridiculed the Person of the Lord Jesus and the Blessed Virgin Mary, had been that of a satirist of a private television station, "Channel 10". He had said on the broadcast in question that they were his revenge for the Holocaust-denying statements of a certain Mr. Williamson, a promoter of the Lefebvrite schism, to whom the Holy See, unaware of those statements, granted remission of the excommunication, which he had incurred by illegally receiving episcopal consecration at the hands of the founder of the schismatic sect, ex-archbishop Lefebvre (who was likewise excommunicated and has since died).

posted by Dr. Denice Hanley, DPM, M.Div. @ 4:26 PM