Traditional Catholics accept that the Pope cannot err on the few occasions when the head of the Catholic Church makes consciously infallible statements on matters pertaining to faith and morals. But on those matters which pertain to governance, the Vatican is just as subject to error as any other political or religious leadership.
The excommunication of some members of the Society of St Pius X by one pontiff, and their readmission by another, is a matter for Catholics, since it essentially involves issues concerning the teaching authority of the Church.
However, this matter became controversial because Williamson is a follower of the English propagandist David Irving, perhaps the best known Holocaust denier in the Western world.
The Vatican has demanded that Williamson recant his views. It has also acknowledged that it failed to do due diligence on Williamson before Benedict announced that the excommunicated members of the Society of St Pius X would be readmitted to Catholicism.
Due to the current surge of secularism in the West, and the high profile of many alienated current and former Catholics who are critical of the church, the Vatican should be extra careful to avoid political errors.
Critics of the church have had success over the past four decades in linking Pope Pius XII, who was pontiff from 1939 to 1958, to Hitler and the Nazis.
Pope Benedict is a fine theologian. Yet, he appears to lack basic political skills and seems unwilling to seek advice on some key issues. Anyone with a knowledge of the Society of Pius X would have understood the need to do due diligence on its members, including its bishops. - Gerard Henderson, The Sydney Morning Herald (click below for full article)
http://www.smh.com.au/opinion/why-the-pope-should-use-his-google-20090209-827y.html?page=-1