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Editorial
The Editors
The Catechism of the Catholic Church, the original text of which was written in French and which received Papal approval on 25.6.92, was soon translated into Italian and Spanish. After considerable delay and some controversy it has now appeared in English. Everywhere the Catechism is proving a "best seller". It is a formidable piece of work - the answer to the 1985 Synod of Bishops' request to have "a catechism or compendium of all Catholic doctrine regarding faith and morals...". It was a gigantic task which entailed six years of intense work; the English edition comprises 691 pages. This catechism is not intended to take the place of local catechisms, but to serve "as a point of reference for them". (Pope John Paul II)
It is not the aim of this issue of Sidic to describe the contents of the catechism or to discuss its authority as a teaching document in the Church. Sidic is concerned with the relationship of the Church and the Jewish People. In the last 30 years there has been revolutionary development in the Church's understanding of this relationship with the consequent revision and renewal in preaching and teaching at all levels of Christian life. Judaism is so fundamental to the Church's very identity that the relationship with the Jewish People touches nearly all aspects of its life - liturgy - ethics - catechetics - theology - interpretation of Scripture, Canon Law. In this respect a great deal of the Catechism should be influenced by the insights and the renewal in the Church since the publication of Nostra Aetate in 1965.
Eugene Fisher examines how well this manual reflects the renewed Catholic teaching on Jews and Judaism. Rabbi Klenicki presents a Jewish reading of the Catechism. He examines it carefully to assess how far the dialogue with the Jewish People, the replacement of the "teaching of contempt" by esteem for Judaism and the Jewish People has penetrated the whole of the text. Sidic is grateful for this careful work which is done is a spirit of friendship and esteem for Christianity. A brief but valuable comment by Pastor D. Garrone, which gives an ecumenical dimension to the discussion, follows. Other extracts from various articles give some idea of the numerous reactions from Jews and Christians that this volume has evoked.
All teaching emanating from the highest authority in the Church needs to be "received" by the faithful Christian Community. Indeed this reception is vital for the teaching to be recognised as of the Holy Spirit. The Catechism wants to embrace all the tradition - nearly two thousand years of it. Much of this is conditioned by different historical situations and varying cultural understandings. These have to be taken into account if the teaching is to be correctly interpreted. It is obvious that local churches will need other catechisms that are adapted to their own cultural situation. The Catechism of the Catholic Church is meant to serve as the basis and point of reference for these. We hope that the reflections in this issue of Sidic will be of help to all who are engaged in catechesis at the local level or who are preparing new catechisms for their churches. May all these efforts contribute to what Cardinal Ratzinger has called "the basic task of Jews and Christians":
"To accept each other in profound inner reconciliation, neither in disregard of their faith nor in its denial but out of the depth of faith itself". (1)
(1) The International Jewish-Christian Leaders' Conference, Jerusalem, 1-4 Feb. 1994.
