Catholic anti-semitism

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MartyrForJesus

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How is a Catholic supposed to explain the long history of bitter Catholic anti-semitism? I find that it is not hard to defend things about the Church with a bit of research, such as the Inquisition, corruption in the Church, etc, but how are we supposed to defend Catholic anti-semitism?

It was prevalent throughout the Middle Ages especially, with constant massacres and persecutions of the Jewish people. They were expelled and banished from the majority of Western Christendom, or forced to convert on threats of death. They were blamed for the Black Death, and massacred mercilessly by Catholics because of it. Constant accusations against them of desecrating the Sacred Host and killing Christian Children, using their blood for their religious bread and rituals, again, caused them to be massacred. During the First Crusade the Crusaders went through towns, massacring the Jewish populations. They were even expelled from the Papal States.

What was wrong with them? Why did they deserve all this hate? I’m researching it for a project and frankly, it makes me nauseous reading how they were treated by some Catholics in the past.

God Bless.
 
I’m not an expert on history (though I do know some, especially that which pertains to music and other related topics, the former being my field), so I won’t comment on how true allegations of Catholic anti-semitism is. If you have the historical knowledge and you want to know how to respond to such allegations, here are my suggestions:
  1. First, know the point that the accuser is trying to make and then go from there. It’s a bit useless to postulate information as to why someone may have been anti-semetic unless the accuser has something specific to say about it.
  2. In the case of the Church (or those who represent the Church in a specific area, ie. Spain) acting in an anti-semetic fashion, there really is no defense. Anti-semetism, that is, treating someone with a semetic background with injustice because of his semetic background, is wrong. The best one can really do is say “yeah, that was wrong”. Depending on the rhetorical point they’re making, the discussion could be furthered by discussing ways in which there could possibly be efforts fostered to bring this to light and have reconciliation of some sort on a larger scale. I’m not talking about flagelating anyone, but creating an open forum in which there can be an apology made and whatnot. The sins of our fathers aren’t our own, but they shouldn’t go on forgotten if there are some that have yet to be particularly addressed.
  3. While there are those who like to bash the Church for the purpose of doing so, it should be our presumption that it’s what is going on. The first step sort of takes care of that, but just as a reminder, it’s never good to simply brush off an accusation as unwarranted. For that matter, it would be in the interest of charity to simply avoid discussing the matter altogether if that’s the way one feels.
 
id love to see your finished work. i too am appalled by this history. this lead me to learn more about judaism. check out tovia singer and his lectures at outreachjudaism.org. great speaker.
 
The post I wrote previously was largely meant to address anti-semitism of a nature that hasn’t been spoken on at length that may have happened. With regard to the examples you mentioned, however, I believe that the late Pope John Paul II wrote a letter aplogizing for the foul actions on the part of the Church or those authorized by Her during the crusades (as well as in other examples of injustice as well). I don’t think there’s a point in defending the Church’s actions if a Pope as educated and orthodox as JP II has already made an apology on the part of all of us.
 
Onlyoneequals1 said:
id love to see your finished work. i too am appalled by this history. this lead me to learn more about judaism. check out tovia singer and his lectures at outreachjudaism.org. great speaker.
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Thanks for your comment, however the sins of past Catholics does not in any way make me question the truth of Catholicism.

Just to let you know, proselytizing on this forum is forbidden. I won’t report you but just keep it in mind in the future.
 
MartyrForJesus said:
How is a Catholic supposed to explain the long history of bitter Catholic anti-semitism? I find that it is not hard to defend things about the Church with a bit of research, such as the Inquisition, corruption in the Church, etc, but how are we supposed to defend Catholic anti-semitism?

It was prevalent throughout the Middle Ages especially, with constant massacres and persecutions of the Jewish people. They were expelled and banished from the majority of Western Christendom, or forced to convert on threats of death. They were blamed for the Black Death, and massacred mercilessly by Catholics because of it. Constant accusations against them of desecrating the Sacred Host and killing Christian Children, using their blood for their religious bread and rituals, again, caused them to be massacred. During the First Crusade the Crusaders went through towns, massacring the Jewish populations. They were even expelled from the Papal States.

What was wrong with them? Why did they deserve all this hate? I’m researching it for a project and frankly, it makes me nauseous reading how they were treated by some Catholics in the past.

God Bless.
Click to expand...
Many Jews see antisemitism throughout their long history as a test of their own faith as well as a fulfillment of prophecy toward new beginnings. While Christian, including Catholic, antisemitism has not totally disappeared in the modern world, it has diminished significantly. I think all one can do as a leader of the Catholic Church is apologize for the attitudes and actions of the past–as Pope John Paul II has done–and move on in a better direction. No one can or should be held responsible today for the wrongdoing of past generations.
 
I can remember praying for the ‘perfidious Jews’ on Good Friday in the 1960s.
 
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