Wiesenthal Center Calls Polish Priest’s Apology For Antisemitic Comments Unacceptable

WIESENTHAL CENTER CALLS POLISH PRIEST’S APOLOGY FOR ANTI-SEMITIC COMMENTS UNACCEPTABLE

Center reiterates its call for Vatican to take charge in disciplining controversial priest

In consideration of the damage to Catholic/Jewish relations caused by his anti-Semitic remarks, The Simon WiesenthalCenter said the apology by controversial Polish Catholic leader Father Tadeusz Rydzyk was not enough.

“Father Rydzyk knows very well the anti-Semitic remarks he made and the impact on people around the world," said RabbiMarvin Hier, founder and dean of the Simon Wiesenthal Center. "To say that ‘if anybody felt insulted, I apologize,’ is even more insulting considering his blatant anti-Semitic remarks. Wereiterate our call to the Vatican to discipline Father Rydzyk.”

When Rydzyk’s comments, which were made in response to the Polish government’s $65 billion Holocaust restitutionpackage, were first made public two weeks ago, Rabbi Hier called him “a Josef Goebbels in a collar” who made Jews the scapegoats of a political crisis.” The Center also launched apetition campaigned that generated over 20,000 signatories who called on Rydzyk’s superiors in Krakow and Rome to discipline him.