Pope Francis delivers his blessing as he arrives to hold his weekly general audience, in St. Peter's Square, at the Vatican, Wednesday, Sept. 17, 2014.

AP Photo/Andrew Medichini

Holocaust-denying bishop plans consecration without Pope Francis’ consent

By The Associated Press

VATICAN CITY – A Holocaust-denying Catholic bishop, who made headlines in 2009 when Pope Benedict XVI rehabilitated members of a breakaway traditionalist society, is heading for trouble again with the Vatican.

Bishop Richard Williamson is planning to consecrate a bishop Thursday in Brazil without Pope Francis’ consent – a church crime punishable by excommunication.

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The Rev. Rene Miguel Trincado Cvjetkovic confirmed the planned consecration of the Rev. Christian Jean-Michel Faure in an email to The Associated Press. Williamson, Trincado and Faure have all been, or are in the process of being expelled by the Society of St. Pius X, which opposes the modernizing reforms of the Second Vatican Council.

Williamson has led a splinter group of traditionalists opposed to the society’s reconciliation with Rome.

The traditionalist site Rorate Caeli first reported the consecration.