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Pope Benedict: Jews not to blame for death of Jesus
Topic Started: Saturday, 5. March 2011, 23:34 (1,493 Views)
Rose of York
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http://www.indcatholicnews.com/news.php?viewStory=17771
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Pope Benedict reiterates Catholic teaching on who was responsible for the death of Jesus in his new book launched on Wednesday morning at the Vatican.

In Jesus of Nazareth-Part II, the Holy Father explains biblically and theologically that there is no scriptural basis for blaming the Jews.

The Catholic Church issued its most authoritative teaching on the issue in its 1965 Second Vatican Council document Nostra Aetate, which revolutionised the church's relations with the Jewish people by saying Christ's death could not be attributed to Jews as a whole at the time or today.

Pope Benedict comes to the same conclusion, but he explains how with a thorough, Gospel-by-Gospel analysis in his book, Jesus of Nazareth-Part II, that leaves little doubt that he deeply and personally believes it to be the case: That only a few Temple leaders and a small group of supporters were primarily responsible for Christ's crucifixion.

Interpretations to the contrary have been used for centuries to justify the persecution of Jews.

Jewish scholars said the argument laid out by the German-born pontiff was a landmark statement from a pope that would help fight anti-Semitism today.

"Holocaust survivors know only too well how the centuries-long charge of 'Christ killer' against the Jews created a poisonous climate of hate that was the foundation of anti-Semitic persecution whose ultimate expression was realised in the Holocaust," said Elan Steinberg of the American Gathering of Holocaust Survivors and their Descendants.

The Pope's book, he said, not only confirms church teaching refuting the deicide charge "but seals it for a new generation of Catholics".

Archbishop Kevin McDonald, Archbishop Emeritus of Southwark, Chairman of the Catholic Bishops' Committee for Catholic Jewish Relations said: “Pope Benedict's new book offers a profound reflection on the meaning of the death of Jesus Christ. It goes to the heart of the Christian mystery and his writing is bold and revealing. It is very appropriate that it is being released as we approach the season of Lent since it provides a very fertile preparation for the celebration of Holy Week.

“As far as the Jewish question is concerned, it is important to see these reflections against the background of the very positive approach that the Pope has adopted to Catholic-Jewish dialogue both in his words and deeds. He makes it clear that he wants the book to contribute to Christian-Jewish dialogue and his treatment of key religious themes like worship and sacrifice offers a steer and a focus for dialogue.”

Dom Henry Wansbrough OSB, Ampleforth Abbey, chairman of the Trusteees of the Catholic Biblical Association.“Benedict XVI writes with the deft touch of a mature scholar and an experienced teacher. He explains his often brilliant insights with simple clarity and the masterly phrase which enlightens and convinces. His purpose is to give a readingwhich leads to a personal encounter with Christ. It is not just a historical study, but builds on the historico-critical method to arrive at a ‘faith-hermeneutic’. It does, of course, discuss historical problems, but the Pope’s primary aim is ‘listening with Jesus’ disciples across the ages’. It is a reading of the gospel not by a historian but by a historically alert theologian, writing from within the Church.”

Jesus of Nazareth Part II will be available in the UK and Ireland from 10 March.

Source: VIS/Simon Caldwell/CTS

Reproduced in full, by permission
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Rose of York
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I fail to see why any person would have blamed all the Jews, collectively, for the death of Jesus.
Keep the Faith!

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Home in Rome
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Rose of York
Saturday, 5. March 2011, 23:35
I fail to see why any person would have blamed all the Jews, collectively, for the death of Jesus.
Christian today would say that the whole sinful humanity, not just exclusively the Jews, were responsible for Jesus' death. But there are several historical reasons why Jews came to be blamed for the death of Jesus, usually called Jewish deicide:
1) In the Gospel narrative of the Passion, it's clearly portrayed that Jewish leadership, fearful of reprisal from Rome, conspired to have Jesus condemned as a criminal, a subversive.
2) In Matthew, it's recorded that the crowds shouted in reply to Pilate: 'His blood be on us and on our children,' called the blood curse (27:24f). So the argument goes, the Jews asked for it. Pope Benedict in his latest book gives a contrary interpretation.
3) In the milieu in which the Early Church operated, there was a good reason for putting all the blame on Jews and exonerating Rome, bearing in mind the Church's precarious existence within the empire. It was suggested by more than one scholar that the Gospels were written in defence of Christians against civil authorities.
4) While deicide has been singled out as the origin for antisemitism, the latter existed long before Jesus' time, though it must be said that it did nothing to improve Christian-Jewish relationship.
5) At times in Christian history, the Jews became a scapegoat for all kinds of social ills, often with the Church's tacit or active support. It's not something Christians can be proud of.
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PJD

"5) At times in Christian history, the Jews became a scapegoat for all kinds of social ills, often with the Church's tacit or active support. It's not something Christians can be proud of. "

By the same logic Christians today cannot be blamed for Christian thinking and acting in the past.

PJD
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Home in Rome
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PJD
Sunday, 6. March 2011, 10:44
"5) At times in Christian history, the Jews became a scapegoat for all kinds of social ills, often with the Church's tacit or active support. It's not something Christians can be proud of. "

By the same logic Christians today cannot be blamed for Christian thinking and acting in the past.

PJD
No, but we can learn from it and make sure it will never happen again.
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Rose of York
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Rome bound
Sunday, 6. March 2011, 12:51
PJD
Sunday, 6. March 2011, 10:44
"5) At times in Christian history, the Jews became a scapegoat for all kinds of social ills, often with the Church's tacit or active support. It's not something Christians can be proud of. "

By the same logic Christians today cannot be blamed for Christian thinking and acting in the past.

PJD
No, but we can learn from it and make sure it will never happen again.
How do the Christians make sure genocide will never happen again? Evil governments make evil decisions, which are carried out by persons under the orders of evil commanders. Hopefully we Christians have learned from the past, but taking practical steps to prevent persecution is difficult for the person who wields no power. We can pray, do our best to influence others, and use our vote, but what else can we do?
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Home in Rome
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Rose of York
Sunday, 6. March 2011, 14:28
Rome bound
Sunday, 6. March 2011, 12:51
PJD
Sunday, 6. March 2011, 10:44
"5) At times in Christian history, the Jews became a scapegoat for all kinds of social ills, often with the Church's tacit or active support. It's not something Christians can be proud of. "

By the same logic Christians today cannot be blamed for Christian thinking and acting in the past.

PJD
No, but we can learn from it and make sure it will never happen again.
How do the Christians make sure genocide will never happen again? Evil governments make evil decisions, which are carried out by persons under the orders of evil commanders. Hopefully we Christians have learned from the past, but taking practical steps to prevent persecution is difficult for the person who wields no power. We can pray, do our best to influence others, and use our vote, but what else can we do?
We can influence public opinion and the international community through the United Nations. UN Security Council resolutions do allow the use of force where needed to achieve compliance, and tyrants can be tried for human rights violations at the Hague. Doing nothing is not an option, as it equals appeasement or even tacit approval. Recent Popes have spoken consistenly for the oppressed and opposing atrocities commited against them. We can write to our MPs, join in Justice and Peace demonstrations and make sure the voice of conscience is heard in the corridors of power.
Edited by Home in Rome, Sunday, 6. March 2011, 15:25.
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Deacon Robert
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Rose,
In answer to post 2, is it due to our concept of "Jew". Although Those of Juda,Galilee, Nazereth practiced the same Religion scripture identifies them as Galileans, Nazereans, Judeans "Jews". Even then it was not all Judeans, just a few. It was common to identify people by where they lived.

Edited by Deacon Robert, Monday, 7. March 2011, 13:04.
The burden of life is from ourselves, its lightness from the grace of Christ and the love of God. - William Bernard Ullanthorne

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Derekap
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I don't wish to go 'Off Topic' but in similar vein, no doubt, the present generation of English people are still held guilty by many Irish people of causing the Irish Potato famine', and we likewise blame all the Irish people for the activities of the IRA.

I think people forget that Jesus as well as His Mother and Stepfather were also Jews!

I always used to cringe at the expression: 'Perfideous Jews' in the Holy Saturday Ceremony and considered it completely incorrect. Working in Leeds I used to deal with many Jewish clients and found them no better or worse than Gentiles. Admittedly they tended, by nature of their Middle Eastern origin to bargain more than others for the cheapest option.
Edited by Derekap, Sunday, 6. March 2011, 21:23.
Derekap
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Rose of York
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Derekap
Sunday, 6. March 2011, 21:21
I always used to cringe at the expression: 'Perfideous Jews' in the Holy Saturday Ceremony and considered it completely incorrect. Working in Leeds I used to deal with many Jewish clients and found them no better or worse than Gentiles. Admittedly they tended, by nature of their Middle Eastern origin to bargain more than others for the cheapest option.
I felt the same way. Perfidious is defined as
Quote:
 
the quality or state of being faithless or disloyal : treachery


There are perfidious people in every race and nation, but the prayer was for THE perfidious Jews, to me that meant all of them. Like Derek, I lived not far from Leeds, where there were a lot of Jews. I never met one who appeared to be treacherous. If that prayer had been said within weeks of the crucifixion of Jesus, it would have included Jesus's own mother, Mary Magdalen, and the Apostles!
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Clare
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Putting the "Fun Dame" into Fundamentalist
Perfidious Jews just refers to those Jews who were/are perfidious. That excludes Our Lady, the Apostles, Alphonse Ratisbonne, and any other Jews who abandoned Judaism and embraced Christianity.

Obviously, when we pray for "the perfidious Jews" we are not praying for all members of the Jewish race (if such a race even exists, which is debatable).
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Rose of York
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Clare
Sunday, 6. March 2011, 23:52
Perfidious Jews just refers to those Jews who were/are perfidious. That excludes Our Lady, the Apostles, Alphonse Ratisbonne, and any other Jews who abandoned Judaism and embraced Christianity.
If there were no perfidious Catholics all the prison chaplains would be redundant.

It is not beyond the bounds of possibility for a Jew who is unaware Jesus is divine, to be a thoroughly decent person, with high moral standards and deep strong faith in God as they understand Him.

Praying for perfidious people who happen to be Jews, and omitting to pray for perfidious Gentiles is discriminatory.
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Clare
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Rose of York
Monday, 7. March 2011, 00:07
Clare
Sunday, 6. March 2011, 23:52
Perfidious Jews just refers to those Jews who were/are perfidious. That excludes Our Lady, the Apostles, Alphonse Ratisbonne, and any other Jews who abandoned Judaism and embraced Christianity.
If there were no perfidious Catholics all the prison chaplains would be redundant.

It is not beyond the bounds of possibility for a Jew who is unaware Jesus is divine, to be a thoroughly decent person, with high moral standards and deep strong faith in God as they understand Him.

Praying for perfidious people who happen to be Jews, and omitting to pray for perfidious Gentiles is discriminatory.
Yes, it is discriminatory, because Jews are a unique group. They were the chosen people. That itself is discriminatory. Discrimination is not always wrong.

Incidentally, on the matter of whether Jews are a race, I received this year's census form yesterday, and I noticed something I've noticed before about other forms where one is expected to tick a box about one's race or ethnicity. "Jewish" is never an option. It's there under religion, but not ethnicity. Why?
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Anne-Marie

Clare
Tuesday, 8. March 2011, 10:43
I received this year's census form, and I noticed something I've noticed before about other forms where one is expected to tick a box about one's race or ethnicity. "Jewish" is never an option. It's there under religion, but not ethnicity. Why?
Because 'Jews' are racially Semites, as are 'Palestinians'.
Not all Jews are Semites, of course, as with those from Ethiopia and elsewhere;
Not all Arabs or Moslems are Semites.
Not all Catholics are 'Romans'...
And not all English are even white!
:angel:
Anne-Marie
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Derekap
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Anne-Marie. Are you confusing English - a race, with British - a nationality?
Edited by Derekap, Tuesday, 8. March 2011, 20:32.
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