Final Judgment on Vatican Schema Pinned on Action
sciousness of the common heritage — was made by America, Jesuit pudiation of the "invidious" charge that the declaration "had been
(Continued From Page 1)
weekly, in an editorial discussing of the collective guilt of the Jews watered down" and that the con-
that he was pr aying for non- of the Church and the Jews."
troversy over the test of the state-
Christians, "especially for Jews
He was asked which aspect of the revisions of the Ecumenical for the death of Jesus, and its ment
in the Ecumenical Council
and Moslems." Referring to the the declaration — that regarding Council's proposed declaration on rejection of anti-Semitism — would
"has
already
blunted its intended
afford
"new
opportunities
for
im-
relations
with
the
Jewish
people.
declaration which includes rela- the desirability of a continuing
Stating that the text of the ported interreligious understand- effect. It was meant to be a word
tions with the Jewish people, he Christian-Jewish "dialogue," or
said "loving charity is widening that stating the Church's opposi- declaration, as amended, would be ing and cooperation throughout of love and friendship. It has al-
ready been the source of bitter-
and opening up to all."
tion to anti-Semitism — seemed "an adequate rebuke to anti- the world."
ness and disappointment — a rea-
Dr.
Joachim
Prinz,
president
of
Semitism," the editorial added:
Prof. Elio Toaff of Italy said he more important.
son for shame and anguish on the
is unable to give an opinion re- The full text of the declaration "But, since amendments are still the American Jewish Congress, part of many Catholics and of
greeted
the
Council's
action
on
the
possible,
we
may
hope
that
the
garding the document approved by relating to Jews reads as follows:
suspicion and rancor on the part
Council searches into the mystery final form of the text will reflect Jews as a manifestation of "good
the Ecumenical Council last week, of "The
the Church and remembers the bond the Council's further deliberation will" whose ultimate importance of many Jews."
spelling out the relations between that spiritually ties the people of the
will be tested in the way Catholic Catholic University Denies
on certain delicate points."
Testament to Abraham's stock.
the Catholic Church and the Jew- New
"The Church acknowledges that ac-
Jewish leaders all over the parishes carry it out in day-to- Opposing Vatican Declaration
ish religion.
cording to God's saving design, the be-
ginnings of her faith and her election
world hailed the declaration day practice.
SANTIAGO, Chile (JTA) —
He s t at e d he was doubtful are
already found among the Patriarchs,
Dr. William Wexler, president of Jorge Molina, vice-rector of the
whether it was the task of Moses and the - Prophets. She professes adopted by the Ecumenical Coun-
that all who believe in Christ—Abra-
cil last Friday exonerating the Bnai Brith, speaking as co-chair- Catholic University in Valparaiso,
the Jews to judge such a ham's
sons, according to the faith—are
Jewish people from the Crucifix- man of the World Conference of announced that he is instituting
document. Secondly, he declared, included in Abraham's call. The Church
forget that she received the
ion charge and deploring anti- Jewish Organizations, expressed an investigation to discover the
if the Catholic Church has cannot
Revelation of the Old Testament through
Semitism. However, certain "appreciation of the evident good identity of the person or group
the
people
with whom God in His
changed its attitude toward ineffable mercy
concluded the ancient
reservations were noted in the will and sincere feeling for human that falsified the institution's stand
Jews — "and this is acknow- Covenant.
Jewish statements. Their general freedom" which impelled so many on the question of anti-Semitism.
"Indeed, the Church believes that by
ledged with sincere satisfaction" His
Cross, Christ reconciled Jews and
attitude was the Jewish people leaders of the Catholic Church "to
A leaflet claiming that the uni-
— Jews will be able to give final Gentiles making both one in Himself.
will judge the importance of the strive for a public repudiation by versity was opposed to the adoption
"The
Church recalls that Christ, the
judgment only by the facts that Virgin Mary,
the Apostles, as well as
declaration primarily by the their Church of the movements of the Catholic Church declaration
will follow. "It is my sincerest most of the early Disciples, sprang from
seriousness with which it will be which seek to distort Catholic deploring anti-Semitism had been
Jewish people.
wish," he added, "that our opinion the "Jerusalem
did not recognize the time
teachings and to exploit these distributed widely inside the
implemented.
be unconditionally favorable."
of her visitation, nor did the Jews, for
distortions in the service of anti- Vatican last week, just as the issue
the most part, accept the Gospel; in-
Dr.
Nahum
Goldmann,
president
The Jewish people, the Chief deed, many opposed its spreading.
Semitism."
was being voted upon by the
"Nevertheless God holds the'Jews most of the World Jewish Congress,
Rabbi noted, not only "deplore" dear for the sake of the Fathers, His said the Ecumenical Council's
However, he said, "the true Ecumenical Council.
any persecutions, but "condemn" gift and call are irrevocable. In com- declaration "does away with the significance of the Ecumenical
On the contrary, Molina said,
with the Prophets and Paul the
them in strongest terms "whether pany
Apostle, the Church awaits that day, centuries-old accusation which was Council's statement will be deter- the faculty and the students of the
they are carried out against our known to God alone, on which all peoples the basis of mapy persecutions and mined by the practical effects it university favored that declara-
address the Lord in a single voice
friends or enemies." In this way, will
and 'serve Him shoulder to. shoulder.' cruel injustices committed by the has on those to whom it is ad- tion, when it was pending in the
Since
the spiritual patrimony common
he pointed out, the Jewish people to Christians
Ecumenical Council, and now wel-
and Jews is so great, the Catholic Church against the Jew- dressed."
prove their love toward their council wants to foster and recommend ish people." However, he added
The
New
York
Times,
analyzing
comes heartily the fact that the
knowledge and respect which
neighbors and also their faithful- a is mutual
the fruit, above all, of Biblical and that "at the same time it is to be the Vatican declaration, said that Council had taken a firm stand
ness to the Law of the Lord "Who theological studies as well as of fraternal regretted that the original draft there was a widespread feeling against anti-Semitism.
dialogues.
has elected us."
"Although the Jewish authorities and approved by an overwhelming
Prof. Toaff said also that "a those who followed their lead pressed majority of the Council last year
for the death of Christ, nevertheless
word of gratitude should be ad- what happened to Christ in His Passion was seriously weakened, especial-
dressed to Cardinal Bea and to cannot be attributed to all Jews without ly in the passage concerning anti-
distinction, then alive, not to the Jews
all who, with open friendly spirit, , of
today.
Semitism." He said that to "de- Join a group of successful businessmen and
"Although the Church is the new plore" anti-Semitism after the Nazi
inside the Council and outside the people
gain noteworthy inspiration by helping to
of God, the Jews should not be
Council, fought for the triumph presented as rejected by God or ac- period was certainly inadequate.
combat cancer, leukemia and heart disease.
as if this follows from Holy
of truth and justice, following the cursed,
Morris B. Abram, president of
noble line opened by the late Scriptures.
"May all see to it, then. that in the American Jewish Committee,
catechetical work or in preaching the
Pope John XXIII." He was refer- Word
of God, they do not teach any- said that adoption by the Vatican
ring to Augustin Cardinal Bea, thing that is inconsistent with the truth Council of the declaration on the
of
the
president of the Council for the Christ. Gospel and with the spirit of Jews was "an act of justice long
Promotion of Christian Unity,
"Moreover the Church, which rejects overdue, but he expressed keen
every persecution against any man,
WRITE ME AT .
whom the late Pope John had mindful
Saul Katz
of the common patrimony with regret over some of its assertions
charged with the task of putting the Jews and moved not by political on the ground that they might
Detroit Businessmen's Group
reasons
but
by
the
Gospel's
spiritual
through the Ecumenical Council love, deplores hatred, persecutions, dis- "give rise to misunderstandings."
City of Hope
a schema relating to Jews like the plays of anti-Semitism directed against Abram stated the hope that the
5337 Vermont, Detroit, Michigan
Jews at any time and by anyone.
one just adopted.
As the Church has always held and declaration — especially its re-
Reaction to the declaration holds now, Christ underwent His Passion
and death freely, because of the sins
ranged from enthusiastic praise of men and out of infinite love, in order
may reach salvation. It is, there-
to disappointment over the fact that all
the burden of the Church's preach-
that the word "deicide" was fore,
ing to proclaim the Cross of Christ as
the sign of God's all-embracing love and
deleted from the text and the as
the fountain from which every grace
word "condemns" was replaced flows.
"We
call on God, the Father
by "deplores" with regard to of all, cannot
if we refuse to treat in a
anti-Semitism. The vote to leave brotherly way any man, created as he is
the image of God. Man's relation to
out the word "deicide" in ab- in
God the Father and his relation to men
solving the Jewish people from his brother are so linked together that
says: 'He who does not love
the blame for the Crucifixion Scripture
does not know God.'
was 1,821 to 245. The vote "de-
"The foundation is therefore removed
any theory or practice that leads
ploring" anti-Semitism was 1,905 from
The Detroit Chapter
to discrimination between man and man
to 199.
or people and people, insofar as their
human dignity and the rights flowing
of the American Society for
Bishop Francis P. Leipzig, chair- from it are concerned.
Church thus reproves, as foreign
man of the American Bishops Com- to "The
the mind of Christ, any discrimina-
mission for Catholic-Jewish Affairs, tion against men or harassment of them
of their race, color, condition in
declared that work will be started because
life or religion. On the contrary, the
in the United States within three council ardently implores the Christian
to 'maintain good fellowship
months to carry out the program faithful
among the nations' and, if possible, to
of fostering better relations be- live for their part in peace with all
Israel Institute of Technology
so that they may truly be sons
tween American Catholics and men,
of the Father who is in heaven."
Jews, as set forth in the declara-
cordially invites you to attend
It was indicated also that there
tion approved at the Ecumenical
was
much
_wider
understanding
in
Council.
its
Councilary circles for the justified
The American bishops, he said, concern among Jews over the
are determined that "all manifesta- decision to drop the word "deicide"
tions of anti-Semitism — like all and the use of "deplores" as ex-
hatred, all persecutions, all dis- pressing the Catholic Church at-
criminations of whatever kind — titude toward anti-Semitism. Apart
must disappear from the face of from the differences in strength
Sunday, October 31, 1965
the earth." He emphasized that of the two words, it was pointed
both Catholics and Jews should out that "condemns" refers clear-
equally "engage themselves" to ly also to the future, whereas "de-
Sheraton-Cadillac Hotel
carry out an approach to collabora- plores" is normally applied to past
tion between the two faiths.
events.
The American prelate met
The Rev. George Tavard, of Pitts-
Guest Speakers:
criticisms of the final draft by burgh, expert consultant on inter-
stating • that he expected the faith problems at the EcuMenical
declaration to "usher in a new Council, said in Rome. "Some
era of friendship and coopera- bishops have expressed concern
tion with our Jewish brethren
over changes in the text, but I
for the benefit of all men," de-
do not know what they can do. My
spite "a few minor imperfec-
guess is that it is too late to take
tions."
action. The text is not as advanced
"The amendments carry less as it was, but strong efforts have
Cocktails 6:30 p.m.
weight than the entire document," been made to make it satisfactory."
Dinner 7:30 p.m.
he declared. "What counts is the
overall text and spirit, and this Jesuit Organ Pleaded
$10.00 per person
R.S.V.P. LI 6-7234
expresses kinship, reverence and Dropped Words Be Restored
determination, as well as a con-
NEW YORK (JTA) — A plea
No solicitation of funds
for restoration of t h e words
"deicide" and "condemns" — the
THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS
latter referring to anti-Semitism
8—Friday, October 22, 1965
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