Editor's Letter

An Interfaith Giant

T

he sweep of his engaging personality and the depth
of his ecumenical commitment have combined to
solidify Catholic-Jewish relations in Metro Detroit
like never before. On behalf of the Detroit Jewish commu-
nity, I wish Cardinal Adam Maida, arguably Michigan's most
influential religious leader, a retirement blessed with good
health, uplifting opportunity and continued interfaith work.
This gentle soul and giant of interfaith activity has dem-
onstrated genuine concern for all.
He has managed to negotiate the
politics of the Vatican with aplomb.
Maida has made it his business
to assure a healthy relationship
between the Archdiocese of Detroit
and the Detroit Jewish commu-
nity — a relationship buoyed by a
spirit of mutual respect, friendship
and cooperation. Elaborating, Don
Cohen, B'nai B'rith International's
Bloomfield Township-based Great
Lakes regional director, said: "There
have been some disagreements, but whenever there has
been tension between the Vatican and Israel or between
Catholic and Jewish leaders on theological, international
or domestic issues, that tension has not manifested itself
locally"
Maida, 78, will step down Jan. 28 as head of the region's
1.4 million Catholics and sixth-largest archdiocese in the
U.S. It's an archdiocese trying to redefine itself to attract
younger churchgoers and stay relevant
amid Metro Detroit's changing dynam-
ic. He'll turn the archdiocese over to
Bishop Allen Vigneron, 60, a Mount
Clemens-area native, who had a good
rapport with the various faith groups
in the 560,000-member Archdiocese of
Oakland in northern California, where
he has served since 2003.

Last year, Benedict sought to restore a conversion-of-Jews
prayer to Easter Week services featuring the old Latin mass.
The Vatican later offered a "toned down" version of the
prayer, which still suggested salvation was only possible for
Jews who converted to Christianity.
At a November mass, Benedict lauded Nazi Germany-era
Pope Pius XII for aiding stricken Romans after an Allied
bombing raid during World War II. Thousands of local resi-
dents were killed and the basilica was severely damaged in
that July 19, 1943, attack.
"The generous gesture on that occasion by my venerable
predecessor, who immediately ran to help and comfort the
stricken population in the smoldering rubble, cannot be
erased from historical memories;' Benedict said.
Jewish organizations are among the agencies maintain-
ing that Pius, who died in 1958, did little to reduce Jewish
suffering during the Holocaust. The Vatican maintains
that the pope, on track to beatification, the last step before
canonization, worked outside the limelight to render help
to Jews. If the pope indeed wherever possible "spared
no effort in intervening in their favor, either directly or
through instructions to other individuals or to institutions
of the Catholic Church," the Church should have no reason
not to open private archives before bestowing sainthood on
Pius.

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Watershed Moments

In the 1990s, the Southfield-based Ecumenical Institute
for Jewish-Christian Studies, now the Dove Institute, gave
Cardinal Maida its highest honor, the
Dove Award. During that same period,
Rabbi Irwin Groner of Congregation
Shaarey Zedek of Oakland County
joined the cardinal in creating the
Religious Leaders Forum. Maida
envisioned a forum to bring together
leaders of the interfaith community for
conversation.
"More recently:' said Msgr. Patrick
Halfpenny, "the cardinal looked to the
a E., a kcinpp
Jewish community's religious leader-
Maida became archbishop of the
ship when he invited representatives
Archdiocese of Detroit in 1990 and a
to come together in December to
cardinal four years later. Twice over
share ideas about how to respond
the past 10 years, he spoke from the
to the economic crisis in southeast
pulpit at Temple Beth El in Bloomfield
Michigan, especially involving the
Township. He exuded respect and rec-
auto industry."
onciliation. The first time was shortly
Cardinal Maida: a master bridge
Rabbi Norman Roman of Temple
after Rabbi Daniel Syme arrived in
builder
Kol Ami in West Bloomfield joined
1996. Pope John Paul II had just apolo-
Rabbi Syme in that discussion, which
gized to the Jews for the relative silence
generated a strategic game plan. I hope it doesn't die on the
of the Catholic Church in the face of the Holocaust.
political vine.
"On our bimah at a Friday-night service," Syme recalled,
The monsignor aptly summed up the cardinal's embrace
"the cardinal repeated that apology. I was stunned. At that
of ecumenism: "He has modeled his conviction on the
moment, I fell in love with that man."
notion that dialogue between and among leaders of very
I was glad the cardinal echoed the pope's remorse. But let
different faith perspectives could enrich community life
there be no doubt: Maida believed in his heart that the Jews
in Metro Detroit and beyond. Jewish community leaders
had been victimized by the Church. And that was something
have responded warmly, in my opinion, and bonds of trust,
special.
which go back through the cardinal's predecessors, have
It also becomes worth recounting today. Pope Benedict
XVI is threatening 50 years of interfaith progress with ques-
An Interfaith Giant on page A6
tionable decisions.

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January 22 • 2009

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