Washington Free Beacon
August 25, 2013
The head of a controversial organization that critics describe as anti-Semitic defended his activism and questioned the facts behind the Holocaust one day after former Rep. Ron Paul was asked about participating in a conference organized by the group.
The Fatima Center, a “grassroots association of Catholic priests and lay people,” is hosting a conference in early September at which Paul will give the keynote address on September 11th. The organization has published articles claiming that Jews are attempting to undermine the Catholic Church on behalf of Satan and that “Zionist billionaires” are guilty of “financially raping” Russia’s people.
Father Nicholas Gruner, who runs the Fatima Center, rejected the allegations that his group was anti-Semitic in an interview with the Free Beacon on Friday.
“I object to the charges absolutely, no question about it,” Gruner said. “I am not anti-Semitic … I’m not against any particular people, race or nation because of their people, race or nation.”
However, Gruner added he is skeptical that 6 million Jews were killed in the Holocaust.
“What exactly is Holocaust denial?” Bruner said. “Are we talking about the six million Jews that are alleged to been killed by Hitler?”
“A question that nobody has been able to answer for me, is how can you have six million die, and have 13 million left, when you only had 13 million to start with?” Bruner continued. “I think it’s impossible. But you know, I’m open-minded. I’ll listen to somebody who can prove it otherwise.”