The Vatican Council II's Declaration on the Jews, Nostra Aetate (In Our Age), has been called a landmark in Catholic-Jewish relations, transcending 19 centuries of Catholic misunderstanding of the Jewish people, theological confrontations, and Jewish alienation.
The 1965 document, which devoted its fourth paragraph, a mere 15 Latin sentences, to the relationship of the Church to Judaism, was a pioneering text authored by and written for Catholics.
In commemorating the twentieth anniversary of the promulgation of this declaration, a global assembly of both Catholic and Jewish leaders gathered at the Vatican October 28-30, 1985, to examine the current status of Catholic-Jewish relations world-wide.
The historic meeting was a continuation of dialogue prompted by Nostra Aetate, its 1974 successor, "Guidelines and Suggestions for Implementing the Conciliar declaration Nostra Aetate," and finally the Vatican's June 1985 "Notes on the Correct Way to Present the Jews and Judaism in Preaching and Catechesis of the Roman Catholic Church."
The conference also served as an opportunity for papal representatives to clarify those sections of the "Notes" criticized by members of the Jewish community as being "retrogressive" from the original doctrine and containing ambiguous text language regarding the Holocaust and the State of Israel.
From the Jewish perspective, this dialogue, which all agree must continue, encompasses two basic spheres: theological and secular.
The theological issues concern official church recognition and complete legitimization of the Jewish religions: Judaism and Christianity as parallel ways of salvation, the Jewish roots of Christianity and the affirmation that the covenant between God and the Jewish people has never been revoked.
According to Rabbi Leon Klenicki, director of the Anti-Defamation League's Interfaith Affairs Department, "Notes" positively embraces the concepts of Christianity's Jewish roots and affirms God's covenant with the Jews.
He is, however, concerned that "Notes" suggest that the "coming of Jesus was the only purpose of the Jews," and that Judaism cannot be spiritually fulfilling.
The church, Klenicki adds, does not recognize Judaism as a parallel way of salvation.
In accordance with this statement, Dr. Eugene, Fisher, executive secretary of the Secretariat for Catholic-Jewish Relations of the National Conference of Catholic Bishops admits, "Catholics cannot recognize two parallels of salvation. We can't say anything but that Christ is the redeemer for all."
The secular issues concern church recognition of the State of Israel, an understanding of the Holocaust, and complete condemnation of anti-semitism - factors that decisively shape the way Jews defines themselves today.
Both Nostra Aetate and "Guidelines"
...
Read Full Article
|
