Orthodox Jews air concerns about bishops' note on Jews and New Covenant
July 02, 2009
Representatives of the Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of America and the Rabbinical Council of America met on June 25 with representatives of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) to discuss the recently released “Note on Ambiguities Contained in ‘Reflections on Covenant and Mission,’” which critiqued doctrinal deficiencies in a 2002 statement on Catholic-Jewish dialogue.
The new Note stated that “though Christian participation in interreligious dialogue would not normally include an explicit invitation to baptism and entrance into the Church, the Christian dialogue partner is always giving witness to the following of Christ, to which all are implicitly invited.” Dr. David Berger, head of the Jewish Studies Department at Yeshiva College, stated that Orthodox Jews could not take part in a dialogue that is a cover for proselytism.
“The important term in this discussion is ‘witness,’” said Father James Massa, USCCB executive director for the Secretariat of Ecumenical and Interreligious Affairs. “As Catholics involved in a dialogue of truth, we cannot help but give witness to Christ, who, for us, is synonymous with truth. Without acknowledging our indebtedness to God’s revelation in Christ, we cannot sit at the table and speak as Christians about how we arrive at notions of justice, compassion, and building up the common good-- the very values our interreligious dialogues seek to foster.”
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Further information:
- Catholic-Jewish Dialogue Examines Note On Covenant And Mission (USCCB)
- US bishops correct 2002 statement on Jews and New Covenant (CWN, June 22)
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