Italy Rabbis pulling out of celebration: Pope canceling progress

[gam197]

Italy’s rabbis have said they are pulling out of the Italian Catholic Church’s annual celebration of Judaism, saying recent decisions by Pope Benedict XVI were negating 50 years of interfaith progress.

n an article published Tuesday in the Italian Jesuit magazine Popoli, Richetti said the Assembly of Italian rabbis felt the prayer, and subsequent comments by church officials about the controversy, showed a lack of respect that was necessary for dialogue to continue…

While Jews have no intention of telling Catholics how to pray, “it’s clear that to dialogue means to respect the right of the other to be himself,” Richetti wrote in announcing that Italian rabbis wouldn’t participate in the Italian Catholic Church’s annual celebration of Judaism on Jan. 17.

Benedict, and before him Pope John Paul II, has made improving relations with Jews a priority. But there have been occasional tensions, most recently after a senior Vatican official, Cardinal Renato Martino, said Gaza under the Israeli military offensive resembled a “big concentration camp.”

jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=JPost/JPArticle/ShowFull&cid=1231866577772

I am not sure if this is all or just a few Rabbis?

 

[Genesis315]

What does their “celebration of Judaism” entail? I’m hoping it has something to do with the Old Testament version and not the modern version. If not, I am glad it’s off–I don’t think we should be celebrating the denial of the Son of God.

 

[JReducation]

What does their “celebration of Judaism” entail? I’m hoping it has something to do with the Old Testament version and not the modern version. If not, I am glad it’s off–I don’t think we should be celebrating the denial of the Son of God.

When John Paul II started this celebration the focus was our Jewish heritage as Catholics. Benedict XVI introduced another element which is a voice of thanksgiving for the presence of Judaism and its faith traditions in the world today. Becasue these traditions give historical validity to our own. One has to remember that Pope Benedict is very strong on the use of Reason and Faith together. He always looks to the rational (intellectual) to support the faith and to faith to guide the rational. His style of doing theology is like a pendalum: faith and reason, reason and faith.

Pope Benedict XVI, through his academic studies, has said that there is a place for Judaism in the world today. He also holds the Jewish high holy days in great esteem, because they were celebrated by our Lord and his mother. That’s why he makes it a point to visit or at least call a Jewish Leader to offer congratulations and prayers for their holy days, as he did in New York when he came to the USA. His theological studies of St. Bonaventure and St. Augustine strongly suggest that the Church must be grateful to Judaism and respect Judaism because these are the roots of Jesus.

The Holy Father once quoted St. Bonaventure at a synagogue. He cites where Bonaventure wrote that “Christ came to save his people, not to condemn them.” Therefore, Catholics are obliged to exercise every possible charity and kindness toward those whom God wants to save, without condemnation and without hostility. When the Holy Father visits the Jewish leaders or they visit with him the theme is always the same, Shalom.

Fraternally,

JR

 

[PeterK]

Gam,
It is not all rabbis, just an Italian block, but it could grow I guess.
The rabbis say the pullout is due to one prayer said on only one day of the year (Good Friday) for the conversion of Jews; the word conversion is not in the prayer. I suspect the real motive is retaliation for the Vatican’s condemnation of violence in Gaza.

PeteK