Friday, February 08, 2008

Vatican rejects criticism of conversion prayer...

"We think that reasonably this prayer cannot be an obstacle to dialogue because it reflects the faith of the Church and, furthermore, Jews have prayers in their liturgical texts that we Catholics don't like...I must say that I don't understand why Jews cannot accept that we can make use of our freedom to formulate our prayers...this does not mean we are embarking on a mission [to convert Jews]. We are giving witness to our faith."

- Cardinal Walter Kasper

5 comments:

Anonymous said...

I don't see how the prayer may be considered an "obstacle" to dialogue either. What really makes Abe Foxman and the ADL so angry is that we are giving witness to the faith. The ADL should tread very carefully here. They are coming across as anti-Catholic bigots. And their unreasonable demands are making them look foolish. I'm beginning to wonder if the ADL really wants an authentic dialogue between the Church and the Jewish community.

Paul Anthony Melanson said...

Roger, while I have supported many endeavours of the ADL in the past, I have never subscribed to everything the organization says and does. In my opinion, Abe Foxman has not served the ADL very well. His statements are often long on emotion and short on substance. Perhaps it's time for some leadership change at the ADL?

If we are to have an authentic dialogue as you put it, knee-jerk reactions to everything the Church says and does will have to go. Assuming the worst of the other only serves to fuel the fires of mutual discord and animosity.

This means those who profess to be Catholic [like "Brother" Andre Marie and his followers], will also have to refrain from issuing asinine statements and from broad generalizations which only undermine the common good.

Anonymous said...

Are we supposed to stop being Catholic and forfeit our faith tradition and beliefs just because some Jews don't approve of these? Maybe the ADL would like to criminalize as "anti-Semitic" any expression of Catholic teaching?

Anonymous said...

Having read the prayer, I agree with Roger. The Anti-Defamation League is trying desperately to find fault with the Church. In the process, they are being perceived as ridiculous. I thought the ADL went too far when they criticized The Passion of the Christ. There was nothing anti-semitic about that film. But that whole sorry episode pales in comparison to this exercise in sheer stupidity. The Anti-Defamation League is sinking to a new low.

Anonymous said...

Looks like the ADL feels threatened by Roman Catholicism. I wonder why?

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