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Bishops Speak
The Editors
On the 28th October, 1965, - exactly seven years after the election of John XXIII to the Papacy, - the hierarchy of the Roman Catholic Church accepted the Declaration on the relations of the Church with non-Christian religions; it was on that day solemnly promulgated by Pope Paul VI.
After the Vatican Council, many bishops in their own dioceses referred to the Declaration and to the special relationship which exists between the Church and the Jewish people. We give below some extracts.
1. POPE JOHN XXIII's opening speech to the Council, October 11, 1962.
In the present order of things, Divine Providence is leading us to a new order of human relations, which, by means of our own efforts and even beyond their expectations, is directed toward the fulfillment of God's supreme and inscrutable designs. And everything, even human differences, leads to the greater good of the Church....
Venerable Brothers, such is the aim of the Second Vatican Ecumenical Council, which, while bringing together the Church's best energies, and striving to have men welcome more favorably the good tidings of salvation, prepares, as it were, and consolidates the path toward that unity of mankind which is required as a necessary foundation, in order that the earthly city may be brought to the resemblance of that heavenly city where truth reigns, charity is the law, and whose extent is eternity". (cf..St. Augustine, Epistle 138, 3)
2. Sermon of POPE PAUL VI, pronounced on 28th October, 1965, date of the promulgation of the Declaration of the Church's Relations with non-Christian religions.
"...That the face of the Church, renewed and revivified -(through the Council), may shine out more strongly for our beloved Christian Brothers, who are still separated from full communion with her. That it may also be recognised by the followers of the other religions, especially by those with whom we are connected through kinship with Abraham, particularly the Jews, with whom one must deal in such a way that they are not reproached or mistrusted, but are shown respect, love and hope".
3. AUGUSTINE, Cardinal BEA - Head of the Secretariate for Christian Unity.
"...No one can take from the Jewish people the honour arising from the part played in the past in the preparatory stages of the work of redemption. In addition, it is indisputable that the Church was grounded in this people and on individual members .of it. Christ, the head Of the Church, was the pre-eminent descendant of Abraham, From Abraham's stock came also his blessed Mother, the apostles who were the foundation of the Church, and the first Jewish-Christians.who made up its earliest communities. True, the founding of the Church constituted an entirely new beginning, wholly due to Jesus Christ who founded it on his apostles, chosen and taught by him. This new start was manifested to the world by the descent of the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost. Nevertheless, this new beginning came from the people of the old covenant. The apostles were so very much Jews, and felt themselves to be so, that although they had an embryonic liturgy, of their own in the "breaking of bread" and "the teaching of the apostles", they continued to visit the temple and to pray there, - and, as we have seen, for decades they preached to Jews in the synagogues (cf. Acts 2:46; 3:18; 5:20 f; 21:26; 24:12; 22:17) In this way the Jewish people is, and remains, the "good olive" on to which the other peoTqes of the world have been grafted in order to become sharers in the divine promises made to Abraham and to his posterity. All this is true and will remain true forYall'time and for all eternity...
When we regard as -a whole the interplay between God's loving mercy and the weaknesses and stubborn opposition of his creatures, endowed with the terrifying power of free will, we cannot fail to end our consideration with the same -reflection with which St. Paul concludes his treatment of thin probLim Side by side with the humble acknowledgement that:all-men are 'sinners and ih need of Cod's mercy,-Paul insists-espeoially on the adorable mystery of the -Jay God acts within the history of mankind:
"O the depth of riches any:. wisdom and knowledge of God!
How unsearchable are his judgements and how inscrutable are his ways! For who has known the mind of the Lo:!d or who has been his counsellor.... For from him and to him are all thing,-,, to him be glory for ever. Amen". (Romans 11'.733-56)
The Church and the Jewish People –
Augustin, Cardinal Bea.
4. Cardinal RAUL SILVA HENRIQUES, PriMate of CHILE
"Dear 'Friends,
Some amongst you Trore good enough to invite me to speak to the Jewish community of Santiago I’m -very grateful for this sign of friendship.
Many of you might be surprised that: the, Cardinal Archbishop of Santiago should be pleased to accept this invitation and to speak to a non-Christian community on a religious topic of such special importance for our time: "Respect of the Human-Person in the Old Testament"....
,Cardinal Henriques continued by saying that the spirit of the Vatican Council corresponds With a deep understanding of human values and that all men possess bonds of union with "God's people".
In spite of difficult times, God has.not gorgotten His people and there is a dawn of hope, peace, liberty, brotherhood and lovealso for Israel..
Jewish Chronicle - 3.9.65.
5. Mgr. HEINRICH PACHOWIAK, Auxiliary Bishop of HELDESHEIM, Germany.
"The Declaration was adopted despite 88 negative votes. This number appears large in relation to the voting on the other schemata, but we must examine more closely these 88 votes. Some of them certainly represent. all those Fathers who would have preferred the former.draft of the Declaration. They include also those who were basically in favour, for7exaMple, One of the bishops who sat beside me at the Council - he was from Egypt7 affirmed this to me, but he did not think that, as yet, the time was ripe for such a decree. However, we can say that the result was good, especially when we remember the history of the schema. It must also be kept in mind that the number of bishops opposing the schema diminished .as the voting continued.
I would like to say at the outset that we mustngt.fall into the .error of believing that all religious instruction up to now-has been based on contemptuous treatment of the Jewish people. On thinking back over my own catechism classes, I see that the 11th chapter of Romans was alreadyincluded. We were told clearly that we should not speak of a people rejected or condemned by God: Therefore, we greet with satisfaction the ousting of the term "deicide" from our vocabulary. I believe that Cardinal Bea himself asserted that it should definitely not be used, and therefore could not be included in an official declaration. In general, I think that there are now clear indications as to the orientation of religious instruction, and in which the official teaching of the Church is pointine.
Deutschland Berichte - November, 1965
6. Bishop PEARSON of SINDAi Auxiliary Bishop of LANCASTER, England, the first Catholic Bishop in the country to speak in a synagogue, addressed the Blackpool Reform Jewish Congregation at a meeting organised by the BlackkoolCouncil_of Christiansand_Jews, The Bishop spoke about his experiences in Rome during the Council, and about the Declaration, dealing specifically with the relations of the Catholic church with non-Christians. Afterwards he said: "We hope to continue our ecumenical exchanges in this way. There is a good deal of enthusiasm in this area".
Catholic Herald - 11 February, 1966
7. In regard to the following text, it is useful to remember that last year Cardinal ANGELO ROSSI, Archbishop of SAO PAULO, Brasil, paid a first visit to Rabbi Dr. Pinkus. He was accomFanied by his personal secretary and by another high dignitary. The next day, a delegation from the"Conseil des Religions", whose members belong to the Catholic, Protestant and Jewish faiths returned the visit and, on behalf of Dr. Pinkus,' presented the Cardinal with the two-volume work of' Professor Finkelstein, "The Jews": Their History, Culture and Religion". At the same time, Cardinal Rossi accepted the honorary presidency of the Council.
At a meeting of the Jewish-Christian Fraternity, the Archbishop stated: "As Archbishop of this diocese, we have the task of implementing here the conciliar documents lately promulgated by Pope Paul. Among
these is the Declaration of the Relationship of the Church with non-Christian Religions. This Declaration, when it speaks of the Jewish religion, gives certain practical directives:
1) The Church recognises that she is the "wild shoot" grafted on to the good olive tree which is the First Alliance. She also•believes that Jesus Christ, our Peace, has reconciled both Jews and. Christians by the Cross; that Jesus, his Mother, the apostles and several of the disciples were Jews. The Church recognises that such a great common heritage obliges us to encourage esteem and mutual'trust in this archdiocese, principally as indicated in the Declaration, through promotion of Biblical and theological studies and by fraternal dialogues, such as exists already in the Conselho de Fraternidade Cristao-Judaica.
2) We will emphasize in education at all levels, the disapproval of the Church for any form or manifestation of anti-semitism.
3) To attain this end, we will be careful that, in this archdiocese, in catechetics and preaching, nothing shall be taught which does not harmonise with the truth of the Gospel and the doctrine of Christ.
Brasil-Israel - Jan.Feb.Mar. 1966.
8. Bishop JOHN KING MUSSIO speaking to a Jewish Congregation in STEUBENVILLE, Ohio, U,S,A., stated that the Vatican Council's Declaration on the Jews is a strong, statement, which speaks a language understandable to all Christians....
Speaking at the invitation of Rabbi Richard B. Safran at the Temple Beth El, Bishop.Mussio stated that the fact he was present in the Templeas "a friend received as -a friend", was-ample proof that the Coun.cil's spirit was working.
The Bishop emphasised that the document is:a Catholic one and that resentment in certain Jewish quarters over the statement springs from misunderstanding.
"We Catholics believe in the Incarnation of God in the person of Christ. We believe that Christ is the Messiah prophesied and looked forward to by the Old Testament writers. It is not a condemnation of the Jews that they did not know the time of their visitation, but a historical•fact from our point of view. The Jews were convinced that the time for this had not come. They did not accept the Gospel because they did not believe in it. Freedom of conscience applies here to the Jews as to anyone else. Who does not act in good faith, whether Jew or Gentile, is in fault".
The Bishop explaining the dropping of the word "deiolde" from the text of the statement, said it was a technical expression which would not have been understood by ordinary people.
"The message would have been lost to those who needed it most. The new form says the sate thing - for all Christians know the meaning of the Passion and Death of Christ - but in words that are understood. Moreover, it extends the statement to cover Jews in the past and at the present time".
Social Action Notes for Priests, March, 1966
9. Archbishop THOMAS CHAVEL of PANAMA, speaking to a mixed assembly of Catholics and Jews, invited by Woodrow de Castro, president of the Jewish community:
"Two religions that have the same common origin and that have suffered many persecutions together must not continue in a fratricidal struggle".
Social Action Notes for Priests, May, 1966
10. RICHARD, Cardinal CUSHING, Archbishop of BOSTON, U.S.A.
"The statement is only a beginning and we.should go further and take out of Christian literature all that reflects agaiftst'the Jewish people. After all, we are all spiritual Semites because the New Testament, pertaining to the life and mission of Christ and the Church that He founded, wouldn't make much sense without the Old Testament:
The Declaration we have is not perfect, but, in my opinion'it is a good start. People will forget this Declaration as years go on, but we must'not forget to follow it up to the end so that all the terrible things said about the Jews in Christian literature and all the evil insinuations against them are eradicated':
The Dialogue, September, 1966.
11. Cardinal KONIG, Archbishop of VIENNA to Chairman of A. J. C.
In conversations with the chairman of the American Jewish Committee, Philip E.• Hoffman, Federal Chancellor Dr. Klaus and Cardinal Dr. Konig expressed their determination to fight antisemitic prejudices in Austria. Cardinal Konig mentioned the fact that the Church is at the moment endeavouring to revise theological texts and interpretations in such a way that all wrong and basically negative conceptions of Judaism be eliminated.
Volksblatt, 6.10.1966
12. Cardinal SPELLMAN, Archbishop of NEW YORK, on November 14th, 1966, gave the following pledge to a croup of American Jewish leaders in Washington:
"The Catholic Church in this country will do everything it pos7, sibly can to• implement the spirit as well as the letter" of the Vatican Council's Declaration on the- relation of the Church to non-Christian religions. '(The Declaration repudiated antisemitism and the ancient-charge of collective Jewish responsibility. for the death of Jesus, and called for fraternal dialogue between Catholics and Jews). "We are deeply grateful for the patient and painstaking dialogue in which so many representatives of the Jewish faith participated during Vatican II. These personal en-Counters extending over a four-year period, enriched the Church's awareness of the spiritual patrimony common to Christians and Jews, the common heritage of salvation in the covenant mai.le between God and. Abraham and his descendants. On this exchange of tributee, we Catholic people of the United States salute our Jewish brothers and pledge ourselves to fostering stronger and more extensive bonds of mutual understanding, of respect and Cooperation, It is our prayer that Cod, will permit this occasion to be an instrument .for inspiring confidence that men,ofall faiths can serve God shoulder to shoulder and live n peace as brothers".
Dail' Nei-e Bulletin, J.T.A. 15.11.1966
13. Archbishop IGINO CARDINALE - Apostolic Delegate to BRITAIN.
Describing the Vatican Declaration on religious freedom and on the revised Catholic attitude towards the Jews as a "unique achievement", the Archbishop added that the Council recommended the mutual understanding and respect which were the-first fruits of common Biblical and theological studies of brotherly dialogue.
"The Church", he declared "has given evidence of her sincere good will by the extensive revision of the prayer "for the Jews" in Holy Week liturgy... nay I 'oe allowed to say, with all regard for particular circumstances which may make difficult the actuation even of the holiest intentions, that Catholics would expect a similar official response from the Jews, with a change of attitude to Christians where these form a minority group, and with the correction of certain offensive passages.in the Talmud':
"The Declaration on the relation of the Church to non-Christian religions", he added, "was a far cry from the attitude adopted by some in the past, who held that non-Christian religions were simply the work of Satan, and that the only possible approach to them was on the basis of. conversion. In contrast, the Church now exhorted her children to.acknowledge, preserve and promote the spiritual, moral and cultural values found in non-Christian religions".
"Rather than an absolution of the Jews, it is a confession of Christian guilt in the persecution of the Jews, and a resolution to work against antisemitism and all forms of discrimination". The speaker said that he did not know whether the Declaration had as yet given satisfaction to, the young.Dublin Jew who stated: "Whatever these documents may do, they are unlikely to get me into the Fitzwilliam Tennis Club", But it is certain that the challenge was now laid on Catholics and all men of good willeto make these enactments a turning-point in the history of inter-group relations. •
Jewish Chronicle, November 18th, 1966.
Comments from the Hierarchy in the MIDDLE EAST. The Declaration on non-Christian religions, which contains a section on Judaism was definitely adopted by vote on the 14.6-45 October, 1965. This time there were no violentizactions in Arab countries, such as had marked the vote on the first draft, for a better understanding had gradually developed of the purely religious intentions of the Council Fathers, and efforts to take into consideration in the new text the viewpoint of the Arab Bishops, avoiding all possibility of Zionist exploitation, had been appreciated.
14. As Patriarch MAXIMOS IV emphasised in a statement published by "L'Orient", October 24th, 1965, the hierarchy from Arab countries supported this new text, knowing that the Zionist press considered it "a backward step of the Catholic Church, face to face with pressure from the Patriarchs and other Eastern clergy.... and, that rejection of•this modified text Would surely lead to adoption of the original draft",, of which the Zionist usurpers would take full advantage".
The Patriarch, in his declaration, points out the modifications imposed in the former text due in part to the reactions of the Eastern bishops' substitution of "the Jewish religion" for the "Jews", acknowledgement of the Church as the true chosen people, mention of Jewish opposition to the primitive Church, etc.
In regard to an explicit condemnation of those who treat Jews as a .'ldeicide people", the statement concludes that "the Jews, will continUe to be marked by their crime's", The thought of the Patriarch certainly does not include all Jews of all timo, but only those who were
directly involved in the crime against Jesus. He repeated this idea several times: "The resrnsibility for this crime falls only on those individuals who committed it and not on the rest of the nation. Christ was crucified at the insistance of the Jewish religious leaders of that time, but the Council rofses to see in every Jew, simply because he is a Jew, and particularly the Jews of today, a murderer of Christ, having to pay for the sin of his fathers Antisemitism cannot be legitimised either from a human or from a Christian standpoint".
15. On the contrary, THEODOSIOS VI, Greek Orthodox Patriarch of ANTIOCH, published on October 15th, 1956, a commentary on the Council vote. This commentary itself would show, if there was any need for further evidence, the usefulness of the maligned Declaration to reform the conscience of Christians.
"The Jews and their leaders who killed Our Lord, Jesus Christ, Cried before Pilate, the Roman Governor; 'We have a law and according to that law he must die. May his blood fall upon us and upon our children'. Consequently, all who believe in the law are responsible for this heinous crime. Only repentant Jews who believed in Christ and who followed his commandments, deserve to escape the curse uttered by the prophets against the assassins of Christ, and the just condemnation of the Church at any time in history".
16. The SYRIAN Orthodox Patriarch and his SYNOD issued a similar denunciation of the Conciliar document "because it contradicts the Gospel, the teaching of the Apostles as well as Christian doctrine".
Proche-Orient Chr6tien Tome XVI, Fac.l. 1966
17. Patriarch KYRILLOS of the Coptic Orthodox Church - in a statement to Cairo's Middle East News Agency claimed that he had received a message from the Pope informing him that when the Ecumenical Council resumed its discussion of the Declaration on the Jews in September 1965, it would do so in the light of the Coptic Church's proclamation of "the Jews' responsibilities throughout the ages for crucifying Christ".
The Patriarch pointed out that the Church had "placed on record that no Christian authority, however exalted or powerful, could amend or interpret these facts (of Jewish responsibility for the death of Jesus) in the opposite sense". He also said that he had told the Pope that, in the view of the Coptic Church, the attempt to amend this teaching had political aims.
"The Pope of Rome, in his solicitude for world peace must sponsor the cause of the return of the displaced Palestinian people to their homes, in order that world tranquillity be restored in the Middle East and the flags of peace be hoisted in the land of peace", the Patriarch declared.
Jewish Chronicle - 14.5.65.
18. Reactions to the Declaration in the MIDDLE EAST, other than in Arab countries, were brought out in an interview by Giovanni Caprile, Director of the International Centre of Jewish-Christian Studies at Milan, with Mgr. CHRYSOSTOMOS KONSTANTINIDIS, Metropolitan of MYRA. The interview took place in Istanbul, May 1966.
After questions concerning catechetical-teaching about the Jews in the'Eastern Churches, and-antisemitism, the follo:ginc, question was asked of Mgr. Konstantinidis:
Question: "May we assume .that, apart from certain local and very understandable reactions to the Conciliar Declaration on the Jews, the Eastern Churches are on the whole ready to establish dialogue with Jews-and to adopt attitudes in keeping with that declaration"?
Reply: "The Eastern Church has always considered itself as a
dialogue Church with an age-long experience of co-existence with non-Christians, especially those who believe in one God. Islam, being the religion of the One God, its moves for dialogue are always on a monotheistic basis, setting apart the specifically Christian truths such as the do-ma of the Holy Trinity, and Christ as Son of God and Son of Mary. If such is the case with Islam,,it should be easy to promote dialogue with Jews also, as there is a true basis not-only in the monotheistic faith,- but also in the messianic feeling and hope in the same ancestor-in the faith, not to speak of a common basis in the teaching and content of the Old Testament.
The Eastern Churches are, therefore, willing to establish a true dialogue, though they may not be prepared for it. Personally, I would rather suggest the creation of centres of information in which the necessary elements likely to favour a pre-dialogue among experts could be collected and made available. Their work would then encourage good dispositions on both sides, first on the basis of friendship; and then on the intellectual level. However, we do follow the Conciliar Declaration and the cautious progress in the Roman Catholic Church with the greatest .attention, all the more so, as such a dialogue creates all kinds of responsibilities and difficulties".
Rassegna Ebraico-Cristiana - Settembre„ 1966.
