Catholic group apologizes for Holocaust denial

VATICAN CITY (Reuters) - The leader of a traditionalist Catholic movement apologized to Pope Benedict on Tuesday for remarks denying the Holocaust made by one of his members whom the pope recently rehabilitated.

Bishop Bernard Fellay also said that he had disciplined the bishop who made the statement, British-born Richard Williamson, and ordered him not to speak out again on any political or historical issues.

Williamson's remarks on the Holocaust, most recently on Swedish TV last week, provoked widespread criticism by Jews who said he had wiped out nearly half a century of dialogue with Catholics.

Last Saturday, the pope lifted the 20-year-old excommunication of Fellay, Williamson and two other bishops of the traditionalist fraternity.

Fellay's statement was released by the Vatican.

(editing by Tim Pearce)