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Jews in catechisms in Italy
M.K. - Rome

Italy is one of the few European countries where Jews have not been persecuted, except during the Nazi occupation. Antisemitism, at least of the aggressive type, seems to have little hold on the people. Thus, for example, during the last war, Italian a,ldiers occupying Savoie, co-operated with the Resistance in helping Jews to escape into Switzerland. There is a higher proportion of Jews in Italy who escaped the genocide than in all the other European countries which were allied to Nazism, or under Nazi occupation, with the exception of Denmark and Finland.

If "Christian" antisemitism has its principal source in the teaching of religion, one would expect, in view of the foregoing, that Italian catechisms compiled before the Council would be less tainted with anti-Jewish prejudice than those of most other countries. However, this is not the case. An enquiry made by the Sperry_Centre of the Pro Deo University in Rome, shows that they contain much of what Jules ISAAC described as "the teaching of contempt". (This enquiry will be published in Italian and English this summer). Actually, all catechisms published before 1965, and still in use in the majority of primary and secondary schools, speak of the Jews in a distinctly unfavourable way.

The accusation of "deicide", even the word itself (1) is often applied to the Jewish people. It is always "the Jews",without distinction, who hated Christ, who condemned Him, crucified Him, mocked Him and refused to believe in Him. They are said to be punished by a lasting curse, of which the destruction of Jerusalem, their dispersion and conditon of persecuted wanderers are the consequences. One catechism goes so far as to compare the Jews to Judas who sold His Master for thirty pieces of silver. Some books are particularly unpleasant in tone, for instance G. RICCIOTTI, printed in 1943, but still in use, (La Religione di Cristo -ed Mondadori -The Religion of Christ). In many others, accusations inherited from a long history of hatred are repeated from force of habit, without any re-thinking of the text.

It would seem that in many cases, this way of speaking of the Jews springs less from animosity than from a traditional way of teaching the catechism, which goes hand in hand with an outdated pedagogy and lack of openness to any ecumenical spirit. The same books accuse all the Jews without distinction of having perpetrated the death of Christ; make Pharisees identical with a hateful hypocrisy; send all heretics and schismatics (our Protestant and Orthodox brethren are always designated in this way), and other non-Catholics to hell by putting them outside the communion of saints (2) according to the formula which St. Peter Canisius borrowed from St. Albert the Great.

And since the Council? Certainly post-conciliar catechesis is being renewed at an increasing pace. Up to the present year, efforts have been purely local, for example in the diocese of Bologna; or private, such as those of the Salesians of Turin, Sophia CAVALLETII and G. GOBBI (who work in liaison with the catechetical office of the Rome Vicariate). Thus, new catechisms have appeared, some of which are well in line with the Council in what concerns the Jews, and take into account the progress in catechesis in other countries.

From a pedagogical point of view, as well as in their attitude towards the Jews, the works of S. CAVALLETTI are particularly appreciated. They do not simply refrain from unjust accusations, but point out clearly all that we owe to our ancestors in the faith.

The Salesian editions, L.D.C. of Turin, have a series of new catechisms for elementary classes, and books of religious instruction for secondary classes. Some are excellent pedagogically and for their ecumenical spirit, but, unfortunately, the Salesians lack authors who can provide for the needs of all school age groups, so quite often they have translated pre-conciliar French books, full of traditional anti-Jewish prejudice, (e.g. the books of Mlle DERKENNE and P. DHEILLY). The new small catechisms of the Bologna diocese are excellent and reflect the evangelical spirit and ecumenical openness of the Archbishop. If we mention also, three small catechisms (rather weak and including an anti-Jewish phrrl•o) of the "Edizione Paoline; and three others for secondary classes which are excellent (with the exception of one anti-Jewish phrase which will be corrected in the next printing) produced by the Catechetical Office in Rome, all the new catechisms will have been passed in review. However, there is every hope that these somewhat limited efforts will soon be multiplied.

The Episcopal Assembly of Italy has just formed a national commission to work on the renewal of catechisms. In a year's time this team will have composed a basic text, which will constitute the foundation of four types of books to serve as obligatory models for all future books of religious instruction intended for children, young adolescents, children of the older classes and adults.

But in Italy, as in the majority of other countries, reform of catechetics will take time. It is not sufficient to publish new books -the mentality of the catechists themselves must be changed: priests, religious and professional lay teachers, and, of course, the voluntary young catechists who help so much in the parishes. Unfortunately, as yet there is no organisation in Italy for the training of catechists, no institute of higher catechetics, no Lumen Vitae, nor faculties for conferring degrees in religious instruction. There is no institution to organise congresses and sessions on a large scale for the thousands of catechists, which would popularise the "aggiornamento" in catechetics. At present there are only local initiatives, private organisations which are doing something for the training of catechists, as for instance, the Salesians who have a catechetical centre at Turin, and every year organise a session for catechists at La Mendola. These sessions are followed mostly by religious and young priests. There is also the Institute of Pedagogy and Religious Knowledge of the Daughters of Mary Dr-aculate at Turin. The Catechetical Office of. Rome is also beginning a training centre for catechists of the diocese; this, in an excellent spirit of openness to the needs of present day Christianity.