News in Christian-Jewish Relations: July 2002
|
|
| Pope telegrams Rome's Jewish community about cemetery desecration |
The Vatican has released the text of a telegram sent on behalf of John Paul II by the Holy See's Secretary of State Cardinal Angelo Sodano to the Chief Rabbi of Rome, Professor Riccardo DiSegni. It concerns the recent extensive destruction of tombstones in the Jewish section of the Verano Cemetery of Rome. Rabbi DiSegni expressed the "gratitude of the entire Jewish community" for the "spiritual closeness" declared by the pope. The text of the telegram follows:
Having received the deplorable news of the
desecration of graves of the Jewish community of Rome, the Holy Father,
profoundly saddened by this detestable act which prolongs the series of events
that have taken place with troubling frequency in Europe and other continents,
wishes to express his spiritual closeness to the affected families that have
been struck both in their emotions and dignity. At the same time that he
firmly condemns such ignoble acts and anti-Jewish sentiments that inspire them,
he gives assurance of his prayerful thoughts, so that the Most High might
comfort those who suffer and give eternal peace to the dead of that community so
beloved of God.
| American Baptists issue a reply to Dabru Emet |
The Committee on Christian Unity of the American Baptist Churches U.S.A. has issued a response to Dabru Emet: A Jewish Statement on Christians and Christianity, which was issued in September, 2000, by a group of Jewish scholars and rabbis. The Baptist statement, released in June, 2002, hails the earlier statement as marking a significant new step in Jewish-Christian dialogue. "With the authors of Dabru Emet, we wish to believe that a new day of broader conversation and mutual religious appreciation has begun."
The Baptist statement notes that not all members of the Jewish community may agree with the appreciative attitude toward Christianity expressed in Dabru Emet, and acknowledges that also among Baptists, there are differences over "the nature of the mutual affirmation of our two traditions that is consistent with Christian identity." The statement notes that Jews and Baptists in the United States have a long record of collaboration in support of religious liberty, and urges Baptist churches "to maintain and extend relations with synagogues and temples in their communities, both for shared service and for mutual study." [Press release from Dr. Franklin Sherman of www.jcrelations.net.]
Click here for the full text of the statement.
| Council of Centers on Jewish-Christian Relations is established |
Twenty-four centers or institutes in the United States devoted to mutual understanding between Jews and Christians have formally accepted an invitation to join an umbrella organization to support their activities and work. The Council of Centers on Jewish-Christian Relations [CCJR] will also include affiliate members from similar centers in other countries and representatives from national Christian and Jewish agencies and religious bodies in the United States.
The CCJR will initially be headquartered at the Center for Christian-Jewish Learning at Boston College. The first annual meeting will occur in October and in addition to planning for future collaborative endeavors will feature a conversation between Profs. David Berger and Michael Signer on Dabru Emet: A Jewish Statement on Christians and Christianity.
For further information visit the CCJR's webpages.