The Holy Father and my Superior, Bishop Bernard Fellay, have requested
that I reconsider the remarks I made on Swedish television four months
ago, because their consequences have been so heavy.
Observing these consequences I can truthfully say that I regret having
made such remarks, and that if I had known beforehand the full harm
and hurt to which they would give rise, especially to the Church, but
also to survivors and relatives of victims of injustice under the
Third Reich, I would not have made them.
On Swedish television I gave only the opinion (..."I believe"..."I
believe"...) of a non-historian, an opinion formed 20 years ago on the
basis of evidence then available and rarely expressed in public since.
However, the events of recent weeks and the advice of senior members
of the Society of St. Pius X have persuaded me of my responsibility
for much distress caused. To all souls that took honest scandal from
what I said before God I apologise.
As the Holy Father has said, every act of injust violence against one
man hurts all mankind.
+Richard Williamson
London 26 February 2009