Cardinals Blast Pope on Holocaust Denier

Pope Benedict XIV's reinstatement of a Holocaust-denying bishop has received some unusually harsh criticism from within the church, the Guardian reports. Germany's top-ranking cardinal has labeled the decision "a disaster" and called for the Pope to apologize. Cardinal Walter Kasper, who oversees the Vatican's relations with Judaism, says the decision was badly handled and blames poor management in the church hierarchy.

"There wasn't enough talking with each other in the Vatican and there are no longer checks to see where problems could arise," Kasper, who is also German, told Vatican Radio. "I'm watching this debate with great concern." (More Richard Williamson stories.)