who's more inclusive now?

By Diogenes ( articles ) | Jan 27, 2009

 On the Washington Post's "On Faith" blog, Rabbi Brad Hirschfield offers a balanced perspective on the Pope's decision to lift the excommunication on the SSPX bishops, despite the Bishop Williamson's loathsome statements about the Holocaust.  Hirschfield sensibly takes it for granted that the Pope disagrees with Williamson on that issue, and lifted the excommunication for other reasons. The Pope hasn't endorsed all the views of the SSPX, he noted; he has only affirmed that these bishops share the Catholic faith:

More interesting here, is the Pope's willingness to find a place for these men in particular and for the Society of Saint Pius X in general. If our definition of inclusiveness does not reach beyond the boundaries of our own personal comfort, can we call ourselves truly inclusive? 

Urging other commentators to react sensibly, Hirschfield argues: "The idea that this one move will jeopardize Catholic-Jewish relations is either insane or tragic."

Regrettably, this admirable comment runs alongside a feverish attack by Susan Jacoby, who uses the occasion to revive the old canards that Christianity led to the Holocaust and Pope Pius XII failed to oppose it. In mid-rant, as she reaches full stride, Jacoby asserts: 

By his action, this morally obtuse pope has demonstrated that he has no right to lecture anyone, Catholic or non-Catholic, about anything.

Readers who saw Hirschfield's comment are left to wonder whether Jacoby falls into the "insane" or "tragic" category. In any case, not "inclusive."