This is a guest post by Karl Pfeifer, a veteran anti-fascist and journalist based in Vienna.

In the winter of 1077, Emperor Henry IV journeyed to Canossa near Reggio nell’Emilia as a simple penitent. On January 28, after waiting for three days, he received absolution from Pope Gregory VII. The name Canossa thus became associated with submission to the church.

Those members of the Society of Saint of Pius X who were excommunicated because they were consecrated without the approval of the Vatican, and who include the Holocaust denier Bishop Richard Williamson, did not have to go to Canossa. They were readmitted into the Catholic Church without having to recognize the milestone Second Vatican Council of 1962-65 - commonly known as Vatican II - which exonerated the Jewish people from collective responsibility for the death of Jesus Christ.

Helmut Trutt, the prior of the Pius X Society in Austria, gave an interview to the Vienna daily Österreich in which he reiterated the rejection of Vatican II. Excerpts of that interview follow.

Österreich: The Pius X Society is criticized because of the statements of Bishop Williamson. Do you understand the controversy?

Trutt: To some extent I can, but I do not agree with the sweeping criticism of the Church and the Pope. It was a private statement and I record the fact: the Pius X Society does not deny the Holocaust in any case.

Österreich: At the same time your Society is regarded as ultra-conservative. How do you differ from the Catholic Church?

Trutt: Our ten priests in Austria do indeed look after communities and hold church services. Nevertheless we are, after deep study, convinced that some of the tenets of the Catholic Church are wrong.

Österreich: Do you believe that people of the Jewish religion should be evangelized?

Trutt: Yes, we do believe this and we practice this in Austria. For us, the word of the Holy Bible is absolute and there is the command of evangelizing of Jesus Christ. I like to speak with Jews, but we are convinced: Jesus Christ can redeem us and also the Jews. For this, they must open up and recognize him as God and Redeemer.

Österreich: Are the Jews living today guilty of deicide?

Trutt: What happened 2000 years ago was already a sad story. For this we do not blame only the Jews, but the Jews of that time killed Jesus. The Jewish people is partly responsible for his death.

Österreich: Your founder Archbishop Marcel Levebvre declared the Declaration of Human Rights to be the beginning of atheism. How do you relate to such statements?

Trutt: On principle, we hold still this up. Human beings have only God-given rights. If there are human rights without God, man rises up himself to be God.

Österreich: How do you regard homosexuality?

Trutt: The Holy Bible is on this matter very clear and we don’t mince words. The practice of homosexuality is a sin.