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loubie_doubie
Guest
What is the Catholic teaching on Judaism?
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Joe_5859
Guest
See Vatican II’s document Nostra Aetate. Paragraph 4 deals with Judaism:
4. As the sacred synod searches into the mystery of the Church, it remembers the bond that spiritually ties the people of the New Covenant to Abraham’s stock.
Thus the Church of Christ acknowledges that, according to God’s saving design, the beginnings of her faith and her election are found already among the Patriarchs, Moses and the prophets. She professes that all who believe in Christ – Abraham’s sons according to faith [6] – are included in the same Patriarch’s call, and likewise that the salvation of the Church is mysteriously foreshadowed by the chosen people’s exodus from the land of bondage. The Church, therefore, cannot forget that she received the revelation of the Old Testament through the people with whom God in His inexpressible mercy concluded the Ancient Covenant. Nor can she forget that she draws sustenance from the root of that well-cultivated olive tree onto which have been grafted the wild shoots, the Gentiles. [7] Indeed, the Church believes that by His cross Christ, Our Peace, reconciled Jews and Gentiles. making both one in Himself. [8]
The Church keeps ever in mind the words of the Apostle about his kinsmen: “theirs is the sonship and the glory and the covenants and the law and the worship and the promises; theirs are the fathers and from them is the Christ according to the flesh” (Rom. 9:4-5), the Son of the Virgin Mary. She also recalls that the Apostles, the Church’s main-stay and pillars, as well as most of the early disciples who proclaimed Christ’s Gospel to the world, sprang from the Jewish people.
As Holy Scripture testifies, Jerusalem did not recognize the time of her visitation, [9] nor did the Jews in large number, accept the Gospel; indeed not a few opposed its spreading. [10] Nevertheless, God holds the Jews most dear for the sake of their Fathers; He does not repent of the gifts He makes or of the calls He issues-such is the witness of the Apostle. [11] In company with the Prophets and the same Apostle, the Church awaits that day, known to God alone, on which all peoples will address the Lord in a single voice and “serve him shoulder to shoulder” (Soph. 3:9). [12]
Since the spiritual patrimony common to Christians and Jews is thus so great, this sacred synod wants to foster and recommend that mutual understanding and respect which is the fruit, above all, of biblical and theological studies as well as of fraternal dialogues.
True, the Jewish authorities and those who followed their lead pressed for the death of Christ; [13] still, what happened in His passion cannot be charged against all the Jews, without distinction, then alive, nor against the Jews of today. Although the Church is the new people of God, the Jews should not be presented as rejected or accursed by God, as if this followed from the Holy Scriptures. All should see to it, then, that in catechetical work or in the preaching of the word of God they do not teach anything that does not conform to the truth of the Gospel and the spirit of Christ.
Furthermore, in her rejection of every persecution against any man, the Church, mindful of the patrimony she shares with the Jews and moved not by political reasons but by the Gospel’s spiritual love, decries hatred, persecutions, displays of anti-Semitism, directed against Jews at any time and by anyone.
Besides, as the Church has always held and holds now, Christ underwent His passion and death freely, because of the sins of men and out of infinite love, in order that all may reach salvation. It is, therefore, the burden of the Church’s preaching to proclaim the cross of Christ as the sign of God’s all-embracing love and as the fountain from which every grace flows.
[6] Cf. Gal. 3:7
[7] Cf. Rom. 11:17-24
[8] Cf. Eph. 2:14-16
[9] Cf. Lk. 19:44
[10] Cf. Rom. 11:28
[11] Cf. Rom. 11:28-29; cf. dogmatic Constitution, Lumen Gentium (Light of nations) AAS, 57 (1965) pag. 20
[12] Cf. Is. 66:23; Ps. 65:4; Rom. 11:11-32
[13] Cf. John. 19:6
4. As the sacred synod searches into the mystery of the Church, it remembers the bond that spiritually ties the people of the New Covenant to Abraham’s stock.
Thus the Church of Christ acknowledges that, according to God’s saving design, the beginnings of her faith and her election are found already among the Patriarchs, Moses and the prophets. She professes that all who believe in Christ – Abraham’s sons according to faith [6] – are included in the same Patriarch’s call, and likewise that the salvation of the Church is mysteriously foreshadowed by the chosen people’s exodus from the land of bondage. The Church, therefore, cannot forget that she received the revelation of the Old Testament through the people with whom God in His inexpressible mercy concluded the Ancient Covenant. Nor can she forget that she draws sustenance from the root of that well-cultivated olive tree onto which have been grafted the wild shoots, the Gentiles. [7] Indeed, the Church believes that by His cross Christ, Our Peace, reconciled Jews and Gentiles. making both one in Himself. [8]
The Church keeps ever in mind the words of the Apostle about his kinsmen: “theirs is the sonship and the glory and the covenants and the law and the worship and the promises; theirs are the fathers and from them is the Christ according to the flesh” (Rom. 9:4-5), the Son of the Virgin Mary. She also recalls that the Apostles, the Church’s main-stay and pillars, as well as most of the early disciples who proclaimed Christ’s Gospel to the world, sprang from the Jewish people.
As Holy Scripture testifies, Jerusalem did not recognize the time of her visitation, [9] nor did the Jews in large number, accept the Gospel; indeed not a few opposed its spreading. [10] Nevertheless, God holds the Jews most dear for the sake of their Fathers; He does not repent of the gifts He makes or of the calls He issues-such is the witness of the Apostle. [11] In company with the Prophets and the same Apostle, the Church awaits that day, known to God alone, on which all peoples will address the Lord in a single voice and “serve him shoulder to shoulder” (Soph. 3:9). [12]
Since the spiritual patrimony common to Christians and Jews is thus so great, this sacred synod wants to foster and recommend that mutual understanding and respect which is the fruit, above all, of biblical and theological studies as well as of fraternal dialogues.
True, the Jewish authorities and those who followed their lead pressed for the death of Christ; [13] still, what happened in His passion cannot be charged against all the Jews, without distinction, then alive, nor against the Jews of today. Although the Church is the new people of God, the Jews should not be presented as rejected or accursed by God, as if this followed from the Holy Scriptures. All should see to it, then, that in catechetical work or in the preaching of the word of God they do not teach anything that does not conform to the truth of the Gospel and the spirit of Christ.
Furthermore, in her rejection of every persecution against any man, the Church, mindful of the patrimony she shares with the Jews and moved not by political reasons but by the Gospel’s spiritual love, decries hatred, persecutions, displays of anti-Semitism, directed against Jews at any time and by anyone.
Besides, as the Church has always held and holds now, Christ underwent His passion and death freely, because of the sins of men and out of infinite love, in order that all may reach salvation. It is, therefore, the burden of the Church’s preaching to proclaim the cross of Christ as the sign of God’s all-embracing love and as the fountain from which every grace flows.
[6] Cf. Gal. 3:7
[7] Cf. Rom. 11:17-24
[8] Cf. Eph. 2:14-16
[9] Cf. Lk. 19:44
[10] Cf. Rom. 11:28
[11] Cf. Rom. 11:28-29; cf. dogmatic Constitution, Lumen Gentium (Light of nations) AAS, 57 (1965) pag. 20
[12] Cf. Is. 66:23; Ps. 65:4; Rom. 11:11-32
[13] Cf. John. 19:6
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IntegraCatholic
Guest
That’s not the place to start.
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floresco
Guest
I agree. Nostra Aetate has been interpreted to support the idea that Jews do not need to accept Jesus in order to be saved. In order to understand Nostra Aetate in continuity with the rest of Catholic teaching we need to know what the Church has always taught on this subject – Judaism is not a saving faith.
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Oneofthewomen
Guest
Not exactly sure what you are looking for with this question.
My :twocents: on the matter-
there would not be a Catholic Church if it a poor Jewish boy was not born 2000+ years ago.
and we as Catholics should never forget that!!
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Rites
Guest
God is Catholic, FYI.Not exactly sure what you are looking for with this question.
My :twocents: on the matter-
there would not be a Catholic Church if it a poor Jewish boy was not born 2000+ years ago.
and we as Catholics should never forget that!!
The Church has always held that the promises of Judaism were fulfilled in Christ, and hence the Jewish faith is no longer salvific. Jews are just as much in need of conversion as anyone else. That’s about as simple a summary as there is.
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Advocatus_Fidei
Guest
Catholics are the spiritual descendants of the Israelites, the promises of God to Israel where fulfilled by Christ and the Jews became Catholics, the Pharisees however continued to deny Christ and went on to become the people who today are most commonly referred to as Jews.
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Wesley7
Guest
I’ve learned about Judaism on the Internet but I’ve never been to a synagogue.
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Joe_5859
Guest
Do you have an alternative authoritative Church document to recommend as a better starting point?
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Hesychios
Guest
You should go.
Just tell the people at the door you are there to observe and I am sure they will be very pleasant and accommodating.
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Genesis315
Guest
It’s adherents, like everyone else, are called to repent, embrace the true Gospel with faith, be baptized, and persevere in faith and charity to the end so that they might be saved.
In regards to Jews as a race, the saving covenant (promised to Abraham and his posterity and fulfilled in Christ) was first extended to them, and when most rejected it, it was extended to the Gentiles. However, that covenant remains valid for them in the sense that they may still partake of it if they choose–the rejection of it by their forefathers is not irreparable. If they pertinaciously reject it, however, they cannot be saved. There is also an eschatological teaching that in the end, they all will convert and be saved.
Furthermore, we should treat all races of people with justice and charity–so in regards to Jews, anti-semitism is condemned.
In regards to Jews as a race, the saving covenant (promised to Abraham and his posterity and fulfilled in Christ) was first extended to them, and when most rejected it, it was extended to the Gentiles. However, that covenant remains valid for them in the sense that they may still partake of it if they choose–the rejection of it by their forefathers is not irreparable. If they pertinaciously reject it, however, they cannot be saved. There is also an eschatological teaching that in the end, they all will convert and be saved.
Furthermore, we should treat all races of people with justice and charity–so in regards to Jews, anti-semitism is condemned.
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IntegraCatholic
Guest
Start with everything that that document assumes. Don’t ever go to that document, which offers no help in better understanding what it assumes. On the contrary, it only muddies what was already taught (at best), if it does not actually contradict it. I don’t have the intellectual knowledge (or capacity, probably) to be able to reconcile Nostra Aetate to the tradition of the Church, but I’m not saying it’s impossible.
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Joe_5859
Guest
So I guess that’s a “No”?
I posted the full text of what Nostra Aetate says about Judaism. What specifically do you find objectionable?
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floresco
Guest
No, you should not go to a synagogue. Catholics should not attend the worship services of other religions. If Catholics were to do this, they would be endangering their faith by exposing themselves to false teaching. Also, it could lead others to sin by making them think that the other religion is true.
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Oneofthewomen
Guest
Why not?
Jesus did!
I have attended synagogue services with friends,
and have found that they have given me a lot of insight,
and a different perspective on liturgy.
It in no way "endangered" my faith.
In fact, I find myself much more appreciative of the origins of the catholic liturgy,
now that I have seen how Jesus and the apostles worshipped.
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Advocatus_Fidei
Guest
Yes He did, and He taught Christianity there, and they crucified Him for it.Why not?
Jesus did!
Are you going to the synagogue to teach Christianity?
No I thought not.
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palmas855
Guest
It is somewhat telling to remember that the early Christians had no doubt as to exactly what Judaism was and more importantly what it was not.
I think we all would do well to remember exactly how Judaism was viewed in the early Church and why it was viewed that way.
I think we all would do well to remember exactly how Judaism was viewed in the early Church and why it was viewed that way.
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Advocatus_Fidei
Guest
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floresco
Guest
The fact that you do not understand that this was wrong shows that your faith has already been damaged.I have attended synagogue services with friends,
and have found that they have given me a lot of insight,
and a different perspective on liturgy.
It in no way "endangered" my faith.
I am not saying this to offend you (although I suspect that it will) but I am too tired to think of a tactful way to tell you this. I am sorry if it upsets you but I believe this needs to be said.
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IntegraCatholic
Guest
This seems skeptical, and if it doesn’t need to be revised, it certainly is confusing. There needs to be a clear explanation that the Jews no longer have any hope of salvation without converting. The same caveat is not necessary for the Gentiles because there is no “Gentile” religion. Perhaps it is mythology, but no one believes that anymore. (Apparently, there is actually a religious movement that is trying to revive this in Greece, but it certainly is not as widespread as the Talmudic religion, alas, so commonly practiced in our day, not to mention the great influence the practitioners of this religion have in politics, the economy, the media, etc.
That’s nice but not relevant to a dogmatic constitution. It is about doctrine, not history. It’s nice that they were of the Jewish race. The question is not about the Jewish race but Judaism (more properly, Talmudism, as Judaism no longer exists but has been superseded by the Church).
Um, source? Did the Council Fathers create this out of thin air? Far from this, the vast, vast majority of theologians till this time said precisely the opposite.
This is exceptionally unclear at best, if not a complete contradiction of the teaching of the Church that the Jews cannot be saved without converting to the one true Church outside of which no one can be saved.
This is one theological opinion. There will not necessarily be a mass-conversion of Jews at the end of time.
“So great” is an overstatement. “Mutual understanding”? Do you mean that we each understand what the other believes? It seems to imply an equality: “We understand each other and ‘respect’ each other, i.e., we’re both fine as we are.” This may be the fruit of false oecumenical dialogue, but it is not the fruit of true oecumenism.
The opposite of this statement is certainly the consensus of theologians. I simply disagree with this statement. I will continue to say with St. Paul: “the Jews, Who both killed the Lord Jesus, and the prophets, and have persecuted us, and please not God, and are adversaries to all men” (I. Thess. ii. 14-15).
Ditto. Re-read I. Thess. from above, along with the plethora of Old Testament prophicies frequently mentioned by theologians as prefigurments of the Jews. Consider also the destruction of the temple, the Diaspora, etc. “Adversaries to all men”–that’s pretty strong. Sounds almost like a curse.
Absolutely, but that doesn’t mean that what conforms to the Gospel necessarily conforms to this document.
Um, define persecution.
Define anti-Semitism. I hate the false religion of Talmudism. Is that wrong?
That’s true, but it’s also true that Christ couldn’t kill himself. “The Son of man indeed goeth, as it is written of him: but woe to that man by whom the Son of man shall be betrayed: it were better for him, if that man had not been born.”
That would be a start to my objections to someone inquiring about the Church’s opinion of Judaism to begin with the document you presented.
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