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THE DE TR O IT J EWISH N EWS

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Introductory Offer

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10 CLASSES-Ur
15 CLASSES _$74''
20 CLASSES .$98-
1 MONTH SERIES UV
3 MONTH SERIES CARD
6 MONTH SERIES CARD 4360'
1 YEAR CARD AM'

$46.93
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This offer must be purchased by January 31, 1993.

30

*New People are those who have never taken a class at The Workout Co., or have not been here since June 1992.

New York (JTA) — It is a
measure of just how far the
Catholic attitude toward
Jews and Judaism has
evolved in recent years that
the church's new catechism
has been generally well
received by Jewish experts.
These interreligious af-
fairs experts say the docu-
ment is basically fair and
balanced when it comes to
issues of Jewish concern.
But the catechism's gaps
and omissions on these
issues also illustrate precise-
ly where there is need for
improvement in the Catholic
understanding of Judaism,
observers say.
The 676-page "Catechism
of the Catholic Church,"
signed by the pope in Oc-
tober and released in French
last month, is the Vatican's
official blueprint for the
teaching of Catholicism
worldwide.
It is intended to con-
solidate the lessons of the
church on thousands of theo-
logical issues which have
been elucidated since Vat-
ican Council II opened three
decades ago. It is to be used
in concert with Vatican
Council II documents and
explications, rather than
supplant them.
The catechism has been
seven years and several
drafts in the making, and is
the first such document to be
promulgated by the Vatican
since the 16th century.
It will be used by priests,
educators and publishers as
the foundation of what they
teach to children and adults
about Catholicism.
Official translations into
English, Spanish, German,
Italian and Latin are slated
for publication early in 1993.
In the meantime, Ameri-
can Jewish interreligious af-
fairs experts have translated
the French version to analy-
ze its contents.
The catechism includes
many issues related to Jews
and Judaism, some of which
were applauded by Jewish
commentators, others
criticized.
One positive aspect noted
by analysts is the repeated
emphasis on Christianity's
roots in Judaism, through
frequent reiterations of the
Jewishness of Mary and
Jesus.
The language of Vatican
II, which revolutionized
Catholicism's attitudes
toward Jews and Judaism, is

incorporated throughout the
catechism.
One section, for example,
states that Jews are not col-
lectively responsible for the
death of Jesus and that Jews
should never be presented as
if they are rejected by God.
While that clear and une-
quivocal repudiation of the
blood libel was welcomed by
the Jewish analysts, it did
not go far enough, said
Rabbi Leon Klenicki, direc-
tor of interfaith affairs for
the Anti-Defamation
League.
It would have been ap-
propriate to include a con-
demnation of anti-Semitism
at that point, said Rabbi
Klenicki. "It would help
educators understand that
the anti-Judaism of the New
Testament, if it's not ex-
plained, opens the door to
anti-Semitism, as it has
through the centuries."
Rabbi Jack Bemporad, di-
rector of the Center for
Christian- Jewish Under-
standing at Sacred Heart
University, described the

The catechism has
been seven eyars
and several drafts
in the making.

lack of guidance within the
catechism on interpreting
dicey Christian biblical
statements as worrisome.
"Unless read contextually,
many New Testament
statements appear to be an-
ti-Jewish," he said.
And while the catechism
condemns racism and dis-
crimination, there is no
specific mention of anti-
Semitism or of the Holo-
caust.
That lack of specificity
contrasts sharply with re-
cent statements by Catholic
leaders, including the pope,
who have denounced hatred
of Jews as a sin, and have
shown sensitivity toward the
Holocaust.
That gap is "a disappoint-
ment," said Rabbi Bern-
porad.
The closest the catechism
comes to addressing the
Holocaust is in a section that
describes the extermination
of a people or an ethnic
minority as "a mortal sin."
A section applauded by
both Rabbi Klenicki and