US Jew Unhappy with Vatican

[Christina]

NEW YORK: A leading US Jewish organization on Friday said the Vatican had not done enough to allay its concerns about the introduction of a Latin prayer calling for the conversion of Jews.The Anti-Defamation League said a statement from the Vatican that the new formulation of the prayer "in no way intends to indicate a change in the Catholic Church's regard for the Jews," did not go far enough."On this issue the Vatican has taken two steps forward and three steps backward," Abraham Foxman, the group's national head, said in a statement.He echoed comments from Jewish leaders, who last month criticized the pope for his refusal to abolish the prayer in the Latin mass on Good Friday - the day that commemorates the crucifixion and death of Jesus Christ."It is reassuring that the Catholic Church remains committed to the ideals of Nostra Aetate," Foxman said, in reference to a document repudiating the concept of collective Jewish guilt for the death of Jesus."Yet it is troubling that the statement still doesn't specifically say that the Catholic Church is opposed to proselytizing Jews," he added. "The statement does not go far enough to allay concerns about how the message of this prayer will be understood by the people in the pews."In its statement earlier Friday, the Holy See stressed the "unique bond with which the people of the New Testament is spiritually linked with the stock of Abraham and rejects every attitude of contempt or discrimination against Jews." It added that it firmly repudiated "any kind of anti-Semitism." The "Prayer for Jews" was dropped in the 1960s, but reappeared last year after the pope restored the Latin Rite mass. It was toned down but retains the call for Jews to be converted. German Rabbi Walter Homolka earlier said Jews found its message deeply offensive. "The Church does not have its anti-Semitic tendencies under control," he told the online version of the weekly Der Spiegel.The Vatican statement came just days before the pope is scheduled to meet US Jewish leaders, the most significant Jewish community outside Israel, during his trip to the US from April 15-20. - AFP

 

[followerofchrist]

Stuff like this continues to baffle me. I don't understand why the Catholic church, as well as many others, make prayers to recite over and over. It just doesn't make sense. Our prayers are our talks with God, our time with him. They are to come from the heart. If you are just reciting a prepared prayer for the millionth time that is not praying, that is just talking. The Jewish people need not take offense, the people will just be talking to themselves during the mass about something they aren't even familiar with. Its just what the Pope is telling them to say.

 

[Jerusalem Junkie]

"It is reassuring that the Catholic Church remains committed to the ideals of Nostra Aetate," Foxman said, in reference to a document repudiating the concept of collective Jewish guilt for the death of Jesus.
What is this? How dare him! The Jews did not kill Jesus! The Romans did. Offensive to say the least. Jews never had a hand in killing Jesus, never knew about it till it happened. It was a conspiracy to go after Jesus and not to make it look like a revenge thing so to speak...some nerve......this just shoots all the work Pope John Paul tried to do right in the foot..........! I have all the respect in the world for the Vatican but where do they come up with this stuff? Jews have nothing to feel guilty about because they did nothing!