My remarks on 24 February 2022, as part of the Synod of Bishops discussion at the Columban Centre for Christian-Muslim Relations, Sydney, Australia
Context
On
24 February 2022, a Muslim Academic Dr. Mahsheed Ansari, and I were invited to
speak to a group of Catholics, including a bishop, priests, and others, about the
attitudes and behaviour Muslims and Jews wish for from Catholics. This was an extra-ordinary meeting. Often
faith communities talk among themselves about how to relate to others but, on
this occasion, the organisers, led by Reverend Dr. Patrick McInerney, went
further and asked, “the others”. This is a variation on the questions often
asked in Together For Humanity programs: “What do you want people of other
faiths to know about yours?” and “what do you want to never hear said about
your faith by others?”
The
context for this meeting was that, in March 2020, Pope Francis initiated a
global multiyear process related to the Synod of Bishops in October 2023. The
theme is “For a Synodal Church: Communion, Participation and Mission”. Pope
Francis has invited the entire Church to reflect on this theme. All Catholics were
invited to take part in the diocesan consultation process to promote a sense of
communion and journeying together (1). In Sydney, two non-Catholics were also
included in this consultation. The following is an excerpt of my talk.
Concept
I
felt daunted by the topic. My work is more about encouraging dialogue and
understanding than about the specifics of the Catholic-Jewish dynamic. I am
grateful to Rabbi David Rosen, a world leader in Catholic Jewish relations, who
took the time to talk to me about this, and I credit him for some of the content
of my remarks.
There
is much to celebrate about Catholic-Jewish relations in recent years. Let us
notice that the human family has come a long way from the time when the
approach to religious difference was, “I am right, you are dead”!.
Papal and Vatican announcements, sermons and declarations
express positive attitudes and sentiments that are important to Jewish people.
Some of the key elements of these have been:
1.
That Jews should not be blamed for the killing of
Jesus.
2.
Calling for mutual understanding, respect for,
friendship and brotherhood with Jews.
3.
An abhorrence of antisemitism specifically.
4.
An affirmation of the continuation of the divine
covenant with the Jewish people, rejecting the idea that Jews have been cursed
by God.
5.
Respect for Jewish interpretations of the Torah.
I want to call particular attention to the declaration
that recognises the legitimacy of the Jewish faith as a way of worshiping God,
that is not regarded as second rate because of our refusal to accept Christian
beliefs about Jesus.
The significance of this point cannot be overstated. It
is not for Jews to seek to influence Christian beliefs, nor is it reasonable
for us to expect Catholics to embrace relativism. However, we could wonder how
it is possible for Christians to respect Jews as fellow believers if Christians
affirm the truth of the statement by Jesus “I am the way, the truth, and the
life: no man comes unto the Father, but by me” (2). Does this not mean that Jews
cannot find salvation as Jews?
On 10 December 2015, the Pontifical Commission for Religious Relations with the
Jews issued an unprecedented declaration (3). In this document, the Pope
addressed document addresses this problem as follows: That the Jews are
participants in God’s salvation is theologically unquestionable, but how that
can be possible without confessing Christ explicitly, is and remains an
unfathomable divine mystery.
This document also contains the following, inspiring
sentence: ‘One can only learn to love what one has gradually come to know, and
one can only know truly and profoundly what one loves’.
The main questions – as pointed out by Rabbi Rosen (4)
- that arise now are: How have the unprecedented changes occurring within the
Church, been implemented? Have they filtered down to the vast number of
Catholic believers and changed the deep-seated, centuries-long negative
attitudes towards the Jewish people?
We hope that these noble sentiments do not remain
words on paper but are instead carried in the hearts of every Catholic,
beginning with priests, schoolteachers and other people of influence, and then
in the hearts of children and adults.
I acknowledge that many good actions are already underway. Together For Humanity has been invited to many Catholic schools to have dialogue with students and to build bridges in this way. I would not normally presume to offer advice, but since I was explicitly requested to share my thoughts, I offered the following suggestions about what can be done:
- The teachings – including the Pope’s statement about
salvation and divine mystery - need to be communicated widely in simple
language that lay people can understand.
- The education and formation of priests is to be done
in such a way as to advance these sentiments. This means that learning about
interfaith forms a compulsory element of their education rather than an
elective.
- The education and professional development of
educators in Catholic schools is to be done in such a way as to advance these
sentiments. Again, as a compulsory
element.
- Catholic schools are to be supported and directed to
ensure these sentiments are successfully implanted in the hearts of students, and
to allocate time and money as required to get this result.
- This means ensuring that Catholic students engage with Jewish people by visiting synagogues and Jewish museums, participating in cultural exchange programs with Jewish schools, and inviting speakers into their schools, such as those offered by Together For Humanity. We stand ready to assist and support Catholic churches, schools or other organisations to replicate or adapt elements of our programs as they see fit.
“God did not find a vessel to hold blessings … other
than peace”. (5) I commend the Catholic Church for substantial efforts toward
peace and brotherhood, and wish them every success. My prayers are for peace for the entire human
family, in Ukraine, the Holy Land - Israel/Palestine, and wherever this
blessing is lacking.
1)
https://www.catholic.org.au/synodalchurch
2)
John 14:6
3)
‘For the Gifts and the Calling of God are
Irrevocable' (Rom.11:29): A Reflection on Theological Questions Pertaining to
Catholic-Jewish Relations, point 36, http://www.christianunity.va/content/unitacristiani/en/commissione-per-i-rapporti-religiosi-con-l-ebraismo/commissione-per-i-rapporti-religiosi-con-l-ebraismo-crre/documenti-della-commissione/en.html
4)
Rosen, D. Paper not yet published.
5)
Mishna, Masechet Oktzin, 3rd chapter
Revelation 3:9
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