Watered-Down Ecumenical Document Revealed
t.
Aiming at Conversions; Prose y i zation Condemned

standable, but not where it is
coupled with a statement which
attempts to clarify and re-examine
Catholic views toward Jews.
,"We Would. be forced inevitably
t o question a reassessment leading
to a new and long-overdue regard
for Judaism, for we are forced to
ask if this consideration is depend-
ent on the expectancy of conver-
sion. Such an appeal must be re-
jected by Jews; for any declara-
the American* Jewish Committee, tion, no matter how well intended,
after expressing - anxiety" over the whose effect would mean the dis-
solution of the Jewish -people as
- purported" version of the ,Vati-
can's draft declaration, continued: such, and the elimination of Ju-
"Since we are aware of several daism as a religion, will be re-
versions of such a declaration, we ceived with resentment by Jews
are understandably uncertain as throughout the world.
to the amount of credence this
",131 recent years we have been
version merits. Nonetheless, some heartened by the new spirit per-
of the contents of this document meating many faiths, notably their
are disturbing, indeed, confirming sensitivity to the effect that their
as they do misgivings we have attitudes may create on members
come to -have. We are concerned of other faiths. If this document
particularly that this version in-
•
termingles with its plea for mutual
11 DAY
understanding among religious
CARIBBEAN/
groups a hope for the conversion
CRUISE
of the Jewish people.
Sails January 4, 1965
"Though the Jewish and Chris-
tian religions differ strongly on
matters of proselytizing, Jews do
. Aboard luxury liner TSS Olympia—
fully air conditioned and stabilized.
understand that belief in the ulti-
Stops at Curacao, Barbados, GuvJa-
mate truth of Christianity leads
loupe. Swimming pools, night clubs,
finest accommodations and cuisine.
to desires to win others to share p
Rabbinical supervision. 4th year this
that faith. In other contexts. an
popular cruise has been repeated.
For reservations, information
appeal for conversion is under-

resolved expressly to further and
to recommend reciprocal under-
standing and appreciation, to be
obtained by theological study
and fraternal discussion, and be-
yond that, inasmuch as it severe-
ly disapproves of any wrong in-
flicted upon men wheresoever, it
equally deplores and condemns
hatred and maltreatment of
Jews."
Abram's statement on behalf of

tian hope. Accordingly, and fol-
lowing
lowing the teachings of. -Apostle
the Church expects in un-
shakable faith arid' with ardent de-
sire the entrance of that people
(the Jews) into the fullness of the
p e o pA e of God established by
Christ.7
The text of the new version con-
tinues: "Everyone should be care-
ful, therefore, not to expose the
Jewish people as a rejected na-
tion, be it in Qatechitical tuition,
in preaching of God's Word, or in
worldly conversation, nor should
anything else • be said or done
which may alienate the minds of
men from the Jews."
The sole reference to the Jews
and Crucifixion is in the following
statement:. "Equally, all should be
on their guard not to impute to the
Jews of our time that which was
perpetrated in the Passion of
Christ. - Unofficial information on
Ecumenical Council was ex-
the original draft indicated that
pressed in Jewish circles. Morris
the absolution of the Jews from
B. Abraham, president of the
the crime of deicide was much
American Jewish Committee, is-
more specific.
sued a statement in which he
said his organization "read with
The new version reiterates the
considerable anxiety what pur-
earlier emphasis on the historic
ports to be a confidential version
ties between Jews and Chris-
of the Catholic Church's decla-
tians, referring again to all
ration on Catholic-Jewish rela-
Christians as being "sons of
tions."
Abraham by faith." It then pro-
ceeds to a stern denunciation of
The clause on conversion. as
anti-Semitism with the follow-
quoted in the unofficial translation
ing statement:
from the original Latin, reads: "It
"Since such is the inheritance
is also worth remembering that the
accepted by Christians from
union of the Jewish people with
the Jews. this Holy Council is
the Church is a part of the Chris -

NEW YORK (JTA)—A draft ded-
'oration •on the Catholic Church's
relations with Jews, prepared for I
the next session of the Ecumeni-
cal Council, was revealed here as
stressing the objective of convert-
ing the Jews to Catholocism.
The draft, of undoubted authen-
ticity, was distributed a month ago
to the Council fathers who will at-
tend the third session of the Ecu-
menical Council, convening in
Rome Monday. A study of the text
confirmed earlier information to
the effect that clear absolution of
the Jewish people of the crime of
deicide—advocated at the Coun-
cil's second session by the Vati-
can's Secretariat for the Promotion
of Christian Unity, under Augustin
Cardinal Bea—has been seriously
watered down.
Concern over the new version
now ready for discussion by the

"'WIZ

and folders, write or call:

THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS
Friday, September 11, 1964-9

ATLAS VACATION SERVICE
101 W. 47th St., New York 36. N.Y.
(corner 6th Ave.) Tel. 111 2-1545

is indeed an authentic one, it is
most regrettable indeed that it is
so lacking in the spirit and content
that permeated Chapter 4 of the .
Schema on Ecumenism proposed at
the second session of the Council."

Related Stories on
Pages 10, 13 and 14

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