CLOSE-UP
Exploiting Hatred
24
SUSAN WELCH
Jews are the target, but not the goal,
of white supremacist groups
throughout the United States.
Michigan's Robert Miles plays a
leading role in fomenting this new
`religion.
INSIDE WASHINGTON
Leader Of The PACs?
30
Religious News Service
JOHN J. FIALKA
Has AIPAC taken on an illegal role in
orchestrating funds from political
action committees to pro-Israel
candidates?
Jerusalem Showpieces
LEAH ABRAMOWITZ
Austria's Kurt Waldheim and Pope John Paul II.
Horrendous Vatican Symbolism:
Kurt Waldheim And The Pope
BERL FALBAUM
Bitburg II . . . That perhaps best
describes the decision by Pope John Paul
H to meet with Austrian President Kurt
Waldheim.
Indeed, it may be somewhat worse in
that the Pope not only represents a political
office — such as President Reagan's
presidency — but he is the world's moral
and spiritual leader. Thus, it is expected
that he will make not only political deci-
sions but consider moral implications as
well.
The explanation that he met with
Waldheim as a head of state, not as an "in-
dividual," is a hollow distinction. It is as
inexplicable as the reason for the meeting.
The point is that the meeting and its sym-
bolism is horrendous, leaving a reservoir
of dreadful implications.
Unfortunately, the Pope failed in his
moral responsibilities and by meeting with
Waldheim implied that either:
• He did not believe that Waldheim par-
ticipated in Nazi atrocities, although the
record is clear that the Austrian president
was involved to some extent. What's more,
Waldheim has lied about his background,
indicating that he himself understands his
culpability — whatever the extent.
• The Pope does not consider such par-
ticipation serious, an extremely unsettling
message which much of the world is, un-
fortunately, prepared to accept.
• The Pope has forgiven Waldheim —
forgiven the unforgiveable — at a time
when other nations, those whose interests
are primarily political, have barred him
from their countries.
Whatever the reasons for the visit, it is
disheartening in the least and equally un-
fortunate that it comes from a Vatican
whose record in relation to the Holocaust
and Jews is hardly commendable, recent
encyclicals notwithstanding. The record of
the Vatican during the Holocaust is still
very suspect, particularly since the Holy
See has never opened its filed. It still
refuses to recognize Israel while it has lit-
tle hesitancy to meet with such figures as
Yassir Arafat and now Kurt Waldheim.
What should be the reaction of the
Jewish community? It ought to be one of
outrage yet, somewhat puzzling, it has been
relatively sedate. There were some protests
but nothing to the extent that were
rightfully expressed when President
Reagan visited Bitburg. The Jewish com-
munity, which united during the Bitburg
episode, has not spoken out forcefully
enough.
Some American Jewish groups may not
meet with the Pope when he visits the U.S.
in September but there appears to be some
hesitancy. There should be none.
The Detroit Free Press editorialized: "
. . . for the Jewish group to decline to talk
with the Pope because he chooses, as the
head of state, to receive another head of
state of a nation that is predominantly
Catholic is to shut down vital links of com-
munications among the world's important
groups. It would be a step backward for a
rift of this kind to be allowed to develop."
This is backward logic at best. The Pope
should meet with heads of state — in
private or public capacities — which reflect
the highest moral standards; not the
Continued on Page 11
36
The Old City's Jewish Quarter mixes
the ancient and the modern through
innovation, renovation and
decoration.
42
Marital Gridlock
JAMES DAVID BESSER
A new book offers realistic advice for
`Not Quite Paradise: Making Marriage
Work'
ENTERTAINMENT
Making Miniatures
47
JUDY MARX
Harold Goldman's hobby has come
out of the basement.
69
SINGLE LIFE
Ride The Waves
HEIDI PRESS
You can't help getting to know each
other when the waves are crashing
around your rubber raft.
DEPARTMENTS
29
30
32
34
39
47
Women
Inside Washington
Synagogue
Youth
Business
Entertainment
58
61
68
69
72
89
Cooking
Engagements
Births
Single Life
Seniors
Obituaries
CANDLELIGHTING
July 3, 1987
8:53 p.m.
7