The Lefebvrite controversy seems to be moving from initial concern over its effects on Catholic-Jewish dialogue to fear among Catholics, especially in Europe, that the Vatican is backing away from the reforms of Vatican II.

Pope Benedict XVI's advisers are now taking the blame for the public relations catastrophe that ensued when the pope lifted the excommunication of Bishop Richard Williamson and three other schismatic bishops, according to the Toronto Star and other sources.

The news after the rehabilitation of the Lefebrvites keeps getting worse: The chief rabbinate of Israel has broken off ties with the Vatican, despite Pope Benedict's protestations that he does not share Bishop Richard Williamson's denial of the Holocaust, according to the Jerusalem Post. Healing this new rift will indeed take time.

The rehabilitation of the Lefebvrites, who went into schism after the Second Vatican Council, has drawn a lot of press coverage, especially in Europe, where most of the group's 150,000 members live. As expected, Jewish response has been strong and negative, as reported here by the UK Times, as one of the bishops restored to Rome's good graces is a vociferous denier of the Holocaust.

A leading Italian rabbi has pulled out of an annual Vatican celebration of Judaism, according to the U.K. Times.

There's much to celebrate after a succesful Catholic-Muslim summit is Rome last week. The 15-point joint statement of the Muslim and Christian scholars is a healthy step on the road to a more constructive relationship betweeen Islam and Christianity.