The Holocaust denial of the Saint Benedict Center - Richmond, New Hampshire

The Church takes Holocaust denial very seriously. Read here for example. And yet, Douglas Bersaw of the Saint Benedict Center cult [Richmond, New Hampshire] has said that, "There's a lot of controversy among people who study the so-called Holocaust..There's a misperception that Hitler had a position to kill all the Jews. It's all a fraud. Six million people..it didn't occur." (Cherishing an Older Catholicism, The Boston Globe). And what does Louis Villarrubia ("Brother" Andre Marie, the "Prior" of the Saint Benedict Center) believe about the Holocaust? Read here.

One has to wonder why Catholic author Philip Lawler would attend the Saint Benedict Center Conference as a guest speaker. Two relevant posts here and here. Pope Benedict XVI has said that any minimization of the Holocaust is "unacceptable" (see here). This is one reason why the Saint Benedict Center cult is "unacceptable." Does Mr. Lawler believe differently?

Since any minimization of the Holocaust is "unacceptable" according to Our Holy Father, what course of action should be taken against Louis Villarrubia ("Brother" Andre Marie)? Readers of this Blog (and Russell Provosts Blog SBC Watch) will recall that when "Brother" Andre Marie was asked by Mary Richardson of the television program Chronicle whether or not 6 million Jews died during the Holocaust, he replied "I don't know, I'm not a historian." What is this but an attitude of "minimization" regarding the Holocaust? While he acknowledged that some Jews died "during the Second World War," his attitude was absolutely chilling as he spoke of the "subtleties of the Holocaust."

Still no answer from the Saint Benedict Center cult..

In a comment left at the Keene Sentinel Talkback thread entitled "Richmond: A Town Divided," Mr. Roger Vaste left the following comment on June 3, 2007:

"Eleonore Villarrubia, responding to Ann Duclos' previous comment at this forum, has written: "..shame on me for thinking that you might be a Catholic of good will who had doubts regarding Brother Andre's diaconate ordination and wanted facts." This statement implies that Ann Duclos is not a Catholic of good will. It is, therefore, nothing short of calumny. And as far as "Brother" Andre's "diaconal ordination," I challenge Eleonore Villarrubia to show everyone who frequents this forum the dimissorial letters from Bishop John McCormack granting canonical permission for another Bishop to ordain her son. And if she cannot do so, I challenge her to demonstrate from Canon Law and Church teaching how her son may be ordained to the diaconate without such dimissorial letters. I'm waiting Mrs. Villarrubia. Show me the canon in Canon Law which justifies your son's disobedience to the Church. Any refusal to answer will be construed as an admission of your own dishonesty."

Mr. Vaste (and others who demanded proof of "Brother" Andre Marie's "ordination" to the diaconate) never did receive any response from SBC cultists. After some 8 months, the SBC cult still has not explained how Louis Villarrubia could have been validly ordained without canonical permission from the Church in the form of dimissorial letters from Bishop John B. McCormack. It must be remembered that the Diocese of Manchester issued a statement through Rev. Edward Arsenault, Moderator of the Curia, which read:

"I write to you in reply to your letter dated May 24, 2007. I share your concern about the ongoing controversy and difficulties with the Saint Benedict Center. As you know, the Saint Benedict Center has no permission or authority to exercise any Ministry on behalf of the Roman Catholic Church in New Hampshire.

Bishop McCormack has and will continue to do all that he can to encourage people to refrain from participating in any of the spiritual exercises at the Saint Benedict Center. For my part, I will continue to make it clear that Saint Benedict Center has no affiliation with the Roman Catholic Church in any way. Please know that I will continue to pray for you and all those who are affected by difficulties that have been created by the Saint Benedict Center.

With every good wish,
I remain sincerely yours in Christ
Edward J Arsenault
Moderator of the Curia
Manchester NH

The SBC cult has no affiliation with the Roman Catholic Church. "Brother" Andre Marie is not a Catholic religious or an ordained Deacon in the Roman Catholic Church. And he should not pass himself off as such.

Recommended reading:

http://www.splcenter.org/intel/intelreport/article.jsp?aid=782

http://www.factnet.org/?p=193