More Williamson Reverb

The Horse’s Ass gets the boot from Argentina. Whiny Rad Trads will assume I think this is a good thing since, I am informed, I just want to see Williamson *pay*.

Actually, I think it’s a highly ambiguous thing. If, as the story relates, he is being kicked out because he deceived the Argentinian gov’t, then yeah, I have no problem with giving him the boot:

The Argentine interior ministry said that Bishop Williamson had not declared “his true activity” as the director of the seminary on immigration forms, and had “concealed the true motive for his stay in the country” by claiming to be an employee of a non-governmental body.

It would simply be a fitting coda for the Great Apostle of Trutherism who is so darn committed to the Truth that he (sadly) embarrasses those in the Church who don’t love it as much as he does.

On the other hand, if this is the *real* reason he is being kicked out:

The government said it had been unaware of Bishop Williamson’s position until recent publicity, but added that his views were a factor in the decision to expel him.

…then I disagree as a free speech advocate. There are things which are serious sins which cannot and should not be crimes and I think Holocaust denial is one of them. To be sure, Argentina has no obligation to play host to a horse’s ass, so if they want to kick him out, it’s their right. But, in general, I think the attempt to silence nutjobs who advocate evil crap is a good way to create more nutjobs who advocate evil crap.

My basic rule of thumb for the Williamson’s of the world is “Moral censure: Si. Legal punishment: No.”

Speaking of moral censure, I note that the story records the following:

Two weeks ago the Vatican ordered Bishop Williamson to recant his statements “in an absolutely equivocal and public fashion”.

In reply, there is still nothing from the Apostle of Truth but self-congratulatory gas about how his puppy-like dedication to honesty embarrassed the Church.

Mmhmm. Truth. Yup.