Do we Catholics worship a Jew?

[uncle_joe]

When I defend Jews against anti-Semitic remarks, I have many times stated that Christians are especially wrong to be biased against Jews, since Jesus Christ is a Jew. Am I wrong, as a Catholic, to say that people who are biased against all Jews are biased against God, since Jesus, who is God incarnate, is a Jew? Am I correct to say that we Catholics worship a Jew?

 

[Michelle_Arnold]

Am I wrong, as a Catholic, to say that people who are biased against all Jews are biased against God, since Jesus, who is God incarnate, is a Jew?

Although I know you mean well, I am uncomfortable with this argument. I don’t think it is fair to infer that all who are bigoted against Jews are directly bigoted against God. Rather than inflame the discussion in such a way by accusing others of being anti-theists, just point out that Christians should not be engaging in anti-Semitism since Jesus himself was Jewish.
uncle joe:

Am I correct to say that we Catholics worship a Jew?

Technically, yes, but putting it in this way, without any explanation, is bound to cause confusion. Already many people ask why Christians don’t practice Judaism since Jesus was a Jew. Your statement is likely to provoke more such questions. While Jesus was indeed a Jew who faithfully practiced Judaism during his earthly life – thereby, as you might point out, sanctifying Judaism – his purpose was to found a Church that would be for all people. In this matter, while we respect Jews because of their special relationship with our Lord, all of us, Jew and Gentile, are called to follow Jesus in the Church he founded for our salvation.