Apology Letter of SSPX Bishop Richard Williamson

I beg of you to accept, only as is properly respectful, my sincere regrets for having caused to yourself and to the Holy Father so much unnecessary distress and problems.

CHESAPEAKE, Va. (Catholic Online) - After the lifting of the excommunications of the Bishops of the SSPX, the horrible comments of one of their Bishops, Richard Williamson, were splashed across news sources throughout the world. This led to a public correction of Bishop Williamson by the Superior General of the SSPX, Bishop Fellay,as well as a formal apology to the Holy Father on behalf of the entire Society from Bishop Fellay. However, that has certainly not quelled the continuing controversy over the content of those comments.

Now, Rorate Caeli has published the text of a personal letter of apology from Bishop Williamson, dated January 28, 2009, which we set forth below:

To His Eminence Cardinal Castrillón Hoyos

Your Eminence

Amidst this tremendous media storm stirred up by imprudent remarks of mine on Swedish television, I beg of you to accept, only as is properly respectful, my sincere regrets for having caused to yourself and to the Holy Father so much unnecessary distress and problems.

For me, all that matters is the Truth Incarnate, and the interests of His one true Church, through which alone we can save our souls and give eternal glory, in our little way, to Almighty God. So I have only one comment, from the prophet Jonas, I, 12:

"Take me up and throw me into the sea; then the sea will quiet down for you; for I know it is because of me that this great tempest has come upon you."

Please also accept, and convey to the Holy Father, my sincere personal thanks for the document signed last Wednesday and made public on Saturday. Most humbly I will offer a Mass for both of you.

Sincerely yours in Christ

+Richard Williamson

Written to Cardinal Castrillón Hoyos on January 28, 2009.

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