German court begins proceedings against British bishop for allegedly denying Holocaust

Bishop tried for allegedly denying Holocaust

BERLIN — Ultraconservative British Bishop Richard Williamson went on trial Friday on charges of denying the Holocaust for saying in a TV interview that he did not believe Jews were killed in gas chambers during World War II.

The Roman Catholic bishop was barred by his order from attending the proceedings in a court in the Bavarian city of Regensburg. The ultraconservative Society of St. Pius X also forbade him from making statements to the media.

The court had issued Williamson a fine of euro12,000 (about $16,200) for incitement in connection with his statements last year, but the bishop refused to accept the punishment, forcing his case to be tried publicly.

Williamson’s lawyer, Matthias Lossmann, told the German news agency DAPD his client had expressly requested that the interview, given to Swedish television in November 2008, not be shown in Germany. But it was broadcast over the Internet and cited in German media.

Denying the Holocaust is a criminal offense in Germany.

The interview was conducted near Regensburg and was granted shortly before Williamson’s excommunication was lifted by Pope Benedict XVI, along with that of three other bishops from the anti-modernization movement of the late Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre.

The lifting of Williamson’s excommunication sparked outrage among Jewish groups and in Israel. The Vatican’s handling of the affair prompted criticism from German Chancellor Angela Merkel.

A verdict was expected later Friday.