From Rorate Caeli:
Mgr Richard Williamson
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
UPDATE: Comments are now closed on this post because this topic simply stirs up too much emotion.
The just of the opposing positions is this: some think this shows a sign of humility on Williamson's part, others say his comments don't yet go far enough.
In point of fact, both positions may well be correct. The latter certainly is, insofar as the views that were expressed were indeed offensive; as for the former, only God can judge his heart, but it certainly seems to at least be a step in the direction of repentance and the beginnings (potentially) of a re-consideration. Let us hope and pray that it is so.
