This is the first time I've been moved to comment on one of Mr. Prager's pieces---mainly because "I agree with Dennis" would not make an interesting addition to the conversation.

Vasya is correct about the particulars of the case, but I take issue with his characterization of Mr. Prager as irrational, or his essay as "poorly crafted, illogical drivel." Mr. Prager is a religious Jew who seeks out every opportunity to strengthen the bonds between his people and the Catholic Church. That this scandal has outraged him doesn't surprise me at all---I am Catholic, and I am outraged as well.

Mr. Prager, please believe that Pope Benedict is heartbroken over this turn of affairs, not least because there seems to be no way out of it. The bishops are no longer excommunicated. It is not possible to "take it back." There is no basis for excommunicating this particular bishop on the basis of being a Holocaust denier. If excommunication were to be pronounced on everyone who was a sinner---no matter how vile---who would be left in the church?

Yesterday, it was announced that Bishop Williamson has been removed from his position as rector of the Argentinian seminary for the Society of St. Pius X. The Vatican has stated, "the four bishops, though liberated from the excommunication, have [no] canonical function in the Church and they do not licitly exercise a ministry in it." In the case of Bishop Williamson, it should stay that way.