EJC Reminds Church
Of Jewish Contributions
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56
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 29, 1991
Rome (JTA) — The Euro-
pean Jewish Congress
politely reminded the
Catholic Church this week
that in the euphoria sur-
rounding resurgent religion
on the ruins of Communism
in Europe, it must not forget
to respect Europe's historic
religious and cultural diver-
sity, among which are the
contributions of the Jews.
The EJC was responding
to the church's latest call for
evangelizing "Christian"
Europe in the aftermath of
Communism's collapse.
Its approach was respect-
ful, restrained and filled
with praise for the church's
proclaimed dedication to re-
ligious freedom and human
rights.
But it made clear that
Jews are troubled over the
preparatory document for
the special Assembly of the
Synod of European Bishops,
which opens at the Vatican
in two weeks.
The synod was called to
assess the state of religion in
Europe since the fall of the
Communist regimes. The
document urges the new
"evangelization" of Europe
and refers frequently to
Europe's "common Chris-
tian heritage."
A letter signed by EJC
president Jean Kahn, and by
Gerhart Riegner and Tullia
Zevi, co-presidents of its
Commission for Inter-
religious Relations, was pre-
sented to Cardinal Carlo
Maria Martini, president of
the Council of the European
Episcopal Conference in
Milan.
Noting that the church
document calls for "a gen-
eral examination into the
historical events which have
marked the lives of the Eu-
ropean peoples, particularly
in the vast zone of the center
and East," the letter said "it
seems essential to us neither
to ignore nor to undervalue
the important Jewish con-
tribution to European
civilization."
On the other hand, "it is
indispensible to make sure
that the memory of the fate
of the Jews of Europe over
the centuries is kept alive in
order to better fight against
any form of intolerance," the
letter continued.
"This applies particularly
to that part of Europe which
was for centuries the re-
ligious, cultural and social
center of Judaism and where
all modern movements of
Jewish civilization were
born.
" An investigation of this
type should also recognize
the fact that in Europe there
exists a great variety of re-
ligious, cultural and secular
traditions which have con-
stituted the richness and
specific quality of European
culture," the writers added.
"This whole is comprised
in a special way of national,
cultural and religious
minorities. All traditions
should be explicitly recog-
nized as legitimate expres-
sions of European identity."
In reaffirming the position
of religion, "these efforts
must, above all, respect and
affirm the principle of re-
ligious and cultural
pluralism which, without
doubt, constitutes the fun-
damental principle of
modern Europe.
"It seems that in its pro-
gram of 'evangelization of
Europe,' which was pro-
claimed as the fundamental
scope of the synod, the
Catholic Church must give
utmost consideration to this
pluralism and recognize it
explicitly," the letter said.
Trial Judges
Visit Camp Sites
Bonn (JTA) — The Stut-
tgart court judges presiding
at the trial of accused Nazi
war criminal Josef
Schwammberger flew to
Poland to see firsthand the
locale of the atrocities he is
said to have committed
against Jews and others.
The jurists will visit the
sites of the Przemysl, Mielec
and Rozwadow slave labor
camps where Schwamm-
berger served.
The Austrian-born former
SS officer has been on trial
in Stuttgart since June 26,
when he was formally
charged with at least 45
counts of murder and with
complicity in the murders of
more than 3,000 people.
Extradited last year from
Argentina, where he found
haven after the war, the 79-
year-old Mr. Schwamm-
berger denied the charges
and said he could not re-
member ever killing a camp
inmate.
But several survivors have
testified that they saw him
torture and shoot victims.
Defense lawyers have peti-
tioned for dismissal.
But court-appointed ex-
perts say his mental condi-
tion is satisfactory and he is
physically able to appear in
court.