Orthodox Rabbis issue historic statement of cooperation with Catholic Church

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Orthodox Rabbis have issued a historic statement, declaring a new relationship between Orthodox Judaism and Catholicism. The agreement cites the Holocaust as well as changed attitudes as influential forces guiding the rabbis.

By Marshall Connolly (CALIFORNIA NETWORK)
12/13/2016 (17 hours ago)
Catholic Online (www.catholic.org)

LOS ANGELES, CA (California Network) -- A group of Orthodox Jewish Rabbis have issued a statement encouraging cooperation and amity between Catholics and Jews. The proclamation acknowledges the warming of relations between the two groups.

Historically, Christians and Jews have been at odds. During the Medieval period and the Renaissance, Christians often persecuted the Jews. More recently, the Jews of Europe were forced to endure the Holocaust, in which six million of their faithful were murdered. The Holocaust was a culmination of centuries of Jewish persecution and mutual distrust.

However, since Vatican II, the Church has worked diligently to improve these relations. Catholics and Jews should not view one another as enemies, but rather as natural allies with much to offer the world and one another.

The statement was published on December 3 on the Center for Jewish-Christian Understanding and Cooperation. Orthodox rabbis were invited to sign it, and 25 influential, high-profile rabbis have done so. The statement calls for Christians and Jews to recognize their brotherhood and to work together on common problems.

http://www.catholic.org/news/hf/faith/story.php?id=72493

Full statement at link.

[beemer27]

1. This makes a lot of Sense.

Catholics and Jews have much more in common than they have differences. What differences we do have can be worked out, or just lived with. In the matters that we agree upon, we can accomplish much more working together than separately. If more religions had this attitude, what a wonderful world we would live in.

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2. The statement has a powerfl opening:

1. The Shoah ended 70 years ago. It was the warped climax to centuries of disrespect, oppression and rejection of Jews and the consequent enmity that developed between Jews and Christians. In retrospect it is clear that the failure to break through this contempt and engage in constructive dialogue for the good of humankind weakened resistance to evil forces of anti-Semitism that engulfed the world in murder and genocide.

Couldn't be more timely.