The Catholic Church Recognizes its ‘Forever’ Stance on Antisemitism

As part of my Sabbatical, I find myself at the Vatican for the third time since my grant from Touro University began in August.  My objective is clear, albeit the process complicated and multi-layered. In studying the recently-released documents of the former “Secret Vatican Archives,” I am attempting to see whether there is evidence of past behavior on the part of the Pope and his Cabinet that might foster a greater understanding of what transpired during the war years and perhaps alter the legacy of a “say nothing” Pope that exists today.  I am finding many documents that speak of Pius’ life-saving actions despite his public silence. Relevant to today’s meeting on encouraging the Vatican to speak out, i.e. be a stronger voice fighting antisemitism and the anti-Israel movement,  I demonstrated at the meetings that despite Pius’s XII many actions towards saving Jewish and Jewish/Christian lives, it is his words, or lack thereof, that are sorely remembered and live on to serve as discord between Jews and Christians.

Although Pope Francis has done many things in favor of Jews and Israel, perhaps now it is time that he, or a papal representative speak out, in a loud, forceful voice against antisemitism and for the Jews’ biblical and historic right to their homeland.   In meeting with top Church officials this past week, including Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin and Archbishop Paul Gallagher, the Vatican’s global Foreign Affairs Minister, I hoped that my historical contribution might build a bridge to discussing today’s need for the Church to publicly advocate its condemnation of antisemitism, including the latest anti-Israel  incarnation.

At a time when, quite frankly, both Catholics and Jews could use more friends, in-person dialoguing, as old fashioned as that sounds, may foment attitudes that lead to acts like the fundamental agreement, that are beneficial to the Church, the Jewish people, and Israel. This is the position of members of the Pave the Way foundation and me as an Orthodox Jewish Holocaust scholar who seeks out connecting factors above discord every time.

My archival research on Pope Pius XII may ultimately facilitate that end. The revealed documents may, and I cautiously say may, rather than will, usher in a sea change in terms of understanding the wartime record of the Pope and his Cabinet in saving Jews.  Whether he did all he could, or whether “not speaking out” overrules everything else that is on record as lifesaving measures, the process of “finding out” is a necessary step toward reconciliation on this important issue between Jews and the Church.    The currently-held view among most Jews is that Pius XII was the Silent Pope who was afraid to take a stand against Hitler’s annihilation of Jews. Pius XII ultimately became “Hitler’s Pope.” For 65 years, his legacy has been a definite sore spot in Christian/Jewish relations.  However, this highly controversial and intensely emotional subject will not be discussed by me until further evidence is gleaned.  What is certain, is that a closer examination of what happened and why, will serve as a basis for moving forward in relationship building between both Catholics and Jews.

I will focus on the important high-level meetings of the Catholic Church that took place in Rome on March 5^th and 6^t,h of this past week. Pope Francis was scheduled to host the March 5^th meeting, but could not do so due to his ill health.

Because the level of antisemitism is at its highest point since the 1930’s, getting a clear forceful statement from the Catholic Church condemning antisemitism is essential.  This stance has long been institutionally established by the Church since 1963, at The Second Vatican Conference first affirmed in Nostra Aetate by Pope John the 23^rd in 1963 and reaffirmed by Pope Paul VI in 1965

This also means that “new” incarnation of antisemitism in its violent “anti-Israel” sentiment must unequivocally be condemned by the Church.  Unlike the “old” forms of antisemitism, i.e. hating Jews for being swindlers and cheats (as one example) this new antisemitism is more targeted in geo-political terms — that Jews are occupiers and colonizers of land that is not rightfully theirs.  The former is formulated on an irrational reading of historical documents and the latter is untrue from a theological Biblical narrative and a misreading of Scripture.  As we know, Catholics hold by everything stated in the Old Testament and therein is a compelling reason for affirming the promise given to Abraham in Genesis 13:14-17  for the land of Canaan (territorially encompassing modern Israel) as a homeland to the Jewish people forever,  “all the land that you see I will give to you and your offspring forever.”

The term “forever” is reiterated in Genesis 15 and 18, where ironically G-d geographically specifies that from the river of Egypt to the Euphrates, “I will give you as an everlasting possession to you and your descendants after you.”  Although this is clear to all believers of the Bible, Cardinal Galligher intimated that more “work on biblical interpretation may be necessary for a statement by the Church before a public statement affirming the Jews right to the land of Israel is made.”

So, at this moment the Catholic Church may be cautious on giving a political statement as to the Jewish ownership of Israel. Yet, Cardinal Parolin was not hesitant at all about his statement to us about the Church condemning antisemitism whenever and wherever it exists.  Whereas this might fall short of the desired end, it is a loud clear message of reconciliation, one that every protester, and no doubt many are Catholics, should heed when they pick up their next sign condemning “Jews from the River to the Sea.” For Jews everywhere, a publication of the message from the Church on its “forever” stance on antisemitism, will be a sign of the changing times.