David Biema Quotes on Past (2 Quotes)

Above and beyond giving a mea culpa, John Paul II will attempt to frame what the church means by a mea culpa. His belief that the church strengthens itself through a frank acknowledgment of past sins is a remarkable thing. But the Vatican is also being careful to make clear that this isn't simply a spectacular act of self-flagellation before hostile outsiders it's about the church's need to express regret and ask for God's pardon rather than to satisfy outsiders.

There's been a movement over the past decade to begin looking very seriously at the ways in which the Holocaust has been 'marketed' and used in support of contemporary political goals. As difficult as that notion may be for some people to engage, it's an important and reasonable topic for discussion. A ruling that excludes Irving from the realm of legitimate historical scholarship creates more space for serious discussion among academics who accept the basic truths of the Holocaust, but who're asking important questions about the ways in which its legacy may be used or misused.