What does it profit the Jews to have a non confrontational friend, yet lose their soul?

In the September 18^th edition of the Vatican Insider there was published an article entitled: “Pope Francis and the Jews: the first six months”.  In this article we hear how the Jewish people just love Francis.  In an attempt to show you the reader how it is I think I want to take a look at this article and provide commentary as it comes to me: [My Comments]

Ever since the Second Vatican Council brought to the forefront of the Catholic conscience its ineradicable fraternal relationship with Judaism and the Jewish People [Lets assume they are ignorant of Trents recognition of the Jewish people, but didn’t just pander but called them to accept their messiah as well], each subsequent papacy has nourished this awareness with words and deeds.[Lets get this straight, it is only subsequent to the Papacy that we see the Jews as elders and worthy of dignity through words and actions?  Smells like Vatican II spirit.]

John XXIII was the driving force behind the creation of a Vatican II “document on the Jews” that evolved into much wider interreligious and ecumenic application, “Nostra Aetate”. [I know this is pulling threads but there is no ecumenism with the Jews, even with the protestants for that matter because they practice a different faith.  Its really only with the Orthodox and oriental Churches in which ecumenism exists.  The rest can be said to be interreligious dialogue.]

As Papal Nuncio in France, Bulgaria and Greece, Angelo Giuseppe Roncalli had experienced the horrors of the Shoah and acted to save Jewish lives [An honorable thing, now will the Jews recognize this of Pius XII or continue their slander].  His historic encounter in 1960 with the Jewish historian and Holocaust survivor, Jules Isaac – who presented John XXIII with his manuscript on “The teaching of contempt: Christian roots of anti-Semitism” [wow, can you say the pot calling the kettle black.  Lets us a false understanding of the faith and apply it to persecutions, then lets make people feel bad that they make any links to the matter]– strongly reinforced the Pope’s determination to cancel the infamous accusation of “deicide” [Did or did the Jewish leaders at the time of Christ call for Christs death? The person that read this was obviously oblivious to the documents from Vatican II where the charge is actually issued] and by a new focus on the brotherly roots of the two religions, permanently change the course of Catholic-Jewish relations.  “Nostra Aetate” was the outcome and has become the premise for all subsequent steps towards reconciliation [Yet this presupposes that the Pope and the Church still seek for the Jews to recognize that their covenant is abrogated and that they must recognize Jesus as the Messiah and their God.  Yet when will this occur?  When was the last time you heard a pontiff or even a local ordinary, in charity, tell the Jewish people that they are called to conversion?].

Mutual respect for the other’s religious identity [Exxactly what do we respect about Talmudic Judism? That they have a lineage?] has – though sometimes with difficulties – been maintained as a cornerstone for this evolving history.  The Church’s attempts to convert Jews in past centuries, with repeated recourse to humiliation, brute force and persecution throughout Europe, were permanently overturned by this new document [Excuse my language for a moment. What the hell are they talking about? The church cant and did not attempt to convert people through humiliation, brute force or persecution.  To do so invalidates the very conversion.  If a person, lets say even a member of the clergy applied such tactics to induce conversion they did so on their own and they were ignorant of the faith to begin with.]

In barely a half year into his papacy, Pope Jorge Maria Bergoglio has already won the hearts and minds of many skeptical Jewish religious leaders.

Dr. Riccardo Di Segni, the Chief Rabbi of Rome known for his very cautious attitude toward interreligious dialogue and his insistence on mutually recognized limits, said, “This Pontiff does not cease to surprise.” He noted that while Francis’ words are not new but, rather, inherent to Christianity as confirmed by Vatican II [When you hear this you should immediately ask yourself did Vatican II change anything?  Did it even claim the authority to do so?  What is he really surprised at with this new approach?], “It is the force with which he expresses them and his capacity of communicating them that is astounding.”

He was referring to an article written by the Pope in which Francis declared that “since the Second Vatican Council we have rediscovered that the Jewish People are still for us the holy root that produced Jesus”[Again this just shows the deficiency by which the Holy Father received his training.  Anyone familiar with Church history would know this rediscovery is mockery to actual historical occurances].  He also stated that despite the horrors inflicted on the Jewish People by the Shoah, “God never abandoned his covenant with Israel [Which is a true to the extent that he held up his end but the Jewish people rejected their own covenant which was then abrogated as per Paul in Hebrews.  This isn’t a matter of trying to make the Jews feel good.  This is a matter of truth and actual church teaching.  Its like we have become obsessed with making everyone feel good where they are at that to even call them to a conversion is inconvenient and too hard to do.] , and notwithstanding their terrible suffering over the centuries, the Jewish People have kept their faith [What faith do they hold?  Is it a true faith?  Is it the same as what Christ himself fulfilled? This is what will drive a man mad.].  For this, we will never be sufficiently grateful to them as a Church, but also as human beings. In the persistence of their faith in the God of the Covenant, they summon all, including us as Christians, to recall the fact that we are awaiting the return of the Lord as pilgrims, and must therefore always remain open to Him and never retreat from what we have already achieved.” [But we are retreating from that what we received.  We are terrified from the hierarchy on down to proclaim anything but good about others and what they believe.]

During his first official meeting with Jewish leaders represented by a delegation of the International Jewish Committee for Interreligious Consultations (IJCIC) last July, Francis said, “Because of our common roots, a true Christian cannot be anti-Semitic [Just restating Catholic teaching from the beginning…Pius XI also made this clear before WWII but do we hear about that?].” 

In keeping with his informal, iconoclastic style [Notice that the author sees no issue in writing about a pontiff pointing out that the Pope uses heretical styings.  Pray tell where are we headed when those in the Vatican Insider make iconoclasm a new treddy pick for the church?], the Pope walked in, unannounced, causing a stir among the delegates milling around the room.  Rabbi Noam Marans, the American Jewish Committee’s director for Interreligious Relations in the U.S., later summed up the general reaction. “Pope Francis is unassuming, unscripted, warm.  It is a religious experience to be in his presence”.  

INTERVIEW WITH RABBI DAVID ROSEN:   

An in-depth conversation with Rabbi David Rosen, AJC’s International Director of Interreligious Affairs, reveals the essential traits of Pope Francis that are winning worldwide Jewish support and hopes for what the future could bring.

“There has never been a Pope with as deep an understanding of Jews as Pope Francis” [A poor opinion based on what?  Personal feelings, his approach to the Jewish people?] states Rabbi Rosen candidly.  “Of course Pope John Paul II had a unique childhood experience of the Jewish community in Wadowice.  But by the time he was a priest, there was little living community left to talk of, so his engagement was not as a developed adult.

Francis, on the other hand, has not only nurtured lifelong friendships with the Jewish community in Buenos Aires, with whom he has had “a vibrant interaction”, says Rabbi Rosen, but has co-authored a book with an Argentinian rabbi, Abraham Skorka, “thus addressing issues face to face with Jewish self-understanding and experience.  This profoundly shapes his sensitivity and his commitment to the Jewish-Christian relationship.” [Maybe someone should ask the Holy Father in another wide ranging interview whether or not Jews are still called to conversion?]

Rabbi Rosen points to Pope Francis’ “remarkable capacity to communicate his profound humanity in simple and sincere gestures.

Comparing the communicative genius of Pope Wojtyla with that of Pope Bergoglio, Rosen says, “John Paul II was a master of dramatic gestures but these were often novel and challenging. Francis’ brilliance”, he continues,  “lies precisely in his simplicity – which paradoxically has a dramatic impact and has endeared him to the world.” [Remember they love the iconoclastic styles]

David Rosen notes that “the Jewish response has been remarkably warm.” 

“In substance”, says AJC’s Interreligious Director, “he is the self-same continuity of his predecessors.  However he has also built upon his predecessors in relation to the Jewish People.

“Benedict XVI was the first to invite Jews to attend his Papal installation and the Jewish presence at Francis’ inauguration was even more significant and extensive. [Did this invitation have a reason to it other than good will?]

“His public comments to the Jewish representatives at his inauguration, his letters to the Chief Rabbis of Rome and of Israel, his reference to Jewish historic commitment and triumph over persecution in his media interviews – all have deeply impressed Jews worldwide and in Israel that Pope Francis is a profoundly genuine friend of the Jewish People.

Asked what he sees as the main avenues for a revitalized cooperation between Jews and Catholics now and in the future, Rabbi Rosen observes that while the major theological issues of the past have been mainly addressed, and although the discussion can never be exhausted, the Jewish side is now focused on practical things to be accomplished together. [In other words more dialogue without a purpose.  If there is no call to conversion amongst all this good will what does it profit them?]

 “Above all there is an enormous educational challenge” says Rabbi Rosen.

 “While the teaching of the Magisterium towards Jews, Judaism, and Israel are overwhelmingly positive, there are many parts of the Catholic world where pre-Conciliar attitudes still prevail and where anti-Judaism if not anti-Semitism is still to be found [It should have been asked what exactly is meant by this? I myself stand firmly against the Jewish religion that is now held because it is a false religion.  I don’t hate the people that perpetuate the Talmudic rite, but neither do I say silent on the matter.  So too whenever a person holding this faith brings up anti-Semetism they must really be asked what they mean by this.  I wrote on this a few posts back to clear up the real issues.].  This is especially so in many parts of Latin America where, other than in the main cities of Argentina and Brazil, Jews often hardly feature at all on the ‘Catholic radar screen’. [Don’t even know what this means]

“Surely here a Latin American Pope can play a very special role and exert initiative.

“Remarkably, the teaching of Nostra Aetate and of the Magisterium following on therefrom are not an obligatory part of the syllabus for the formation of priests everywhere [Because to document is merely a pastoral letter on how some thought at the time it would be best to approach other religions.].  Addressing this should be a minimal educational responsibility on the part of the Church to its own teachings – not to mention how Jesus and his contemporary Jewish brothers, followers and opponents are presented (or not presented) in sermons in many places especially at Easter time. The Church could do so much in educational terms. [AHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!! If your eyes don’t begin to bleed you have no soul!]

“There is of course a parallel challenge on the Jewish side, but it is not a symmetrical one and Jewish approach has and is changing in response.

 “However the onus is first and foremost on the Christian side. [To deny Christ?  To condemn people that didn’t follow the faith and were reprimanded already for it at the time they lived?  The onus is not on us, but on the Jewish people that deny Christ as their God out of ignorance.}

 “Perhaps this is substantially a consequence of historical power, but the Church is the one here with the most terrible tragic record.  It is a record that still has to be addressed.  In truth, it has already been addressed, but the problem is that not everyone in the Church knows this yet! [Strawman, and the Vatican Insider is happy to publish it.  Souls are perishing and the Jews are concerned with apologies for things that have been condemned? AHHHHHHHH!!!]

 “Beyond this specific responsibility, we have already begun to work and dialogue together on common challenges of our times – social, scientific, environmental, etc., above all, concerning the sanctity of human life and combating dehumanization in its various forms.  Here there is unlimited scope to do more and more together for the benefit of humankind as a whole.”[What does it profit a man to solve all the worlds whoas but lose his soul?]


PRAY, PRAY, PRAY for Francis at every opporutunity.  Pray for Your own Priests!  But Trust in God!  And never lose faith in His Holy Spotless bride the Church!

+JMJ+