Cardinal George lauds appointment of N.Y. archbishop to Jewish Affairs post

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Archbishop Timothy Dolan

Washington D.C., Oct 24, 2009 / 05:50 pm (CNA).- Archbishop of New York Timothy M. Dolan has been named Moderator of Jewish Affairs for the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB). USCCB president Cardinal Francis George says Dolan will be a friend to the Jewish community and will convey “profound respect” for others’ spiritual gifts.

Archbishop Dolan succeeds Archbishop emeritus of Baltimore William H. Keeler in the role.

His five-year appointment was announced in a Friday USCCB statement and will become effective Nov. 11.

Cardinal George’s announcement noted the New York Archdiocese’s “long history of cooperation and friendship between Catholics and Jews.”

“Since the Second Vatican Council, important strides in this relationship have been made through dialogue and collaboration in countering racism, anti-Semitism and other offenses against human dignity," the cardinal commented.

“Our Episcopal Conference, through the leadership of your predecessors in New York, and especially through the tireless and generous service of Cardinal William Keeler, has sought to contribute to the work of reconciliation between the Church and the Jewish people after centuries of mutual estrangement,” he added.

The cardinal said the Jewish community will find Archbishop Dolan to be “a friend who communicates the joy of his own faith, while at the same time conveying profound respect for the spiritual gifts of the other."

Controversy recently arose in Catholic-Jewish dialogue about a clarification the bishops issued concerning “ambiguities” in a Catholic document on the theology of the Christian mission to Jews. Jewish leaders voiced concerns that the changes formally characterized Catholic-Jewish dialogue as an explicit or implicit invitation to Jews to abandon their faith.

In response, the USCCB said that the controversial passages would be removed from the clarification.

On Oct. 2, the Conference issued a statement of principles for Catholic-Jewish dialogue which notes Catholics’ "sacred responsibility" to witness to Christ always. However, the statement also emphasizes that Jewish-Catholic dialogue will never be used as a means of "proselytism" nor is it intended to be a "disguised invitation to baptism."

Comments: 6

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Published by: Francis
Wareham Ma 10/28/2009 11:30 AM EST

From the Douay Rheims Bible [John 8:38-44] "I speak that which I have seen with my Father: and you do the things that you have seen with YOUR father. They answered and said to him: Abraham is our father. Jesus saith them: If you be the children of Abraham, do the works of Abraham. But now YOU SEEK TO KILL ME, a man who have spoken the truth to you, which I have heard of God. This Abraham did not. You do the works of YOUR father. They said therefore to him: We are not born of fornication: we have one Father, even God. Jesus therefore said to them: If God were your Father, YOU WOULD INDEED LOVE ME. For from God I proceeded and came. For I came not of myself: but he sent me. Why do you not know my speech? Because you cannot hear my word. YOU ARE OF YOUR FATHER THE DEVIL: and the desires of YOUR father you will do. He was a murderer from the beginning: and he stood not in the truth, because truth is not in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father thereof. (Mark 16:15-16) And he said to them: Go ye into the whole world and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved: but he that believeth not shall he condemned. (John3:35-36) The Father loveth the Son: and he hath given all things into his hand. He that believeth in the Son hath life everlasting: but he that believeth not the Son shall not see life: but the wrath of God abideth on him.

Published by: Yaakov
Jerusalem, Israel 10/27/2009 01:58 PM EST

Francis, As a member of the Jewish faith, and a friend to Catholics, I am surprised at your lack of respect for the Jewish Nation. It is funny how you can criticize the “Talmudists” every chance you get, yet Jesus had profound respect for the Pharisees. Jesus himself said to “Do as they say and not as they do”. Jesus was familiar with the laws of the Talmud and the oral tradition and specifically said that not one jot would be replaced. It is impossible for someone to call themselves a “Christian” and hate the very people that your Messiah was born to. Do you think that Jesus wore a prayer shawl? Did Jesus pray in Latin or Aramaic/Hebrew? You expect Jews to respect your beliefs which are 100% taken from our books and beliefs and yet disparage all of Judaism as false. I have news for you my friend, If Judaism is a false belief then Catholicism is false as well. The only way that any of Christianity can be true, is if the “Talmudists” who wrote the bible, and the prophets, and the Psalms (Didn’t you know? King David and King Solomon were “Talmudists” too) are true. If according to you if Judaism is a “lie” then the whole concept of a Jewish Messiah is a lie as well…. It’s time you open your eyes and realize that after all the Church’s pogroms, and crusades, and 2,000 years of persecution the Jewish Nation is STRONGER than Even. Am Yisrael Chai my friend and maybe one day you’ll realize that Jews and Catholics have a LOT in common. Shalom.

Published by: Alan
E. Windsor, NJ USA 10/27/2009 12:47 PM EST

Thank you Dr. Guy D for offsetting the likes of Francis. As a Jew, it still amazes me when people belonging to a 1 billion plus Church with all their power, influence and wealth seem to excessively worry what a mere 13 million Jews worldwide believe and think it is we who oppress the Church. Also the claim that Jews offend human dignity by rejecting Jesus (and surviving the worst the Church could throw at us) is baked over anti-semitism. The "false religion" of Judaism was good enough for Jesus himself, if I recall. Who is "letting Jews believe"? Maybe, G-d Himself - just a thought. If Jews persecute and control the Church, then it is proof of how badly we have handled it, since there are still millions of Catholic anti-semites. BTW, our "old fashioned" religion withstood Christianity, Islam, the USSR and Nazi Germany (all supersessionist and racist in regards to Jews) in the modern era. It is said "by your enemies shall you be known." The People of Israel live by the will of the G-d of Israel, an eternal people. Get over it.

Published by: Bill Mulligan
Pottstown/PA/USA 10/27/2009 11:52 AM EST

Francis is dead right, Doctor Guy unfortunately doesn't understand Catholic dogma. Neither does the so-called Pope. It is just astonishing how these people can ignore the clear words of the Christ they claim to believe in and the 19 centuries (pre-Vatican II) of clear, irreformable dogmatic teachings. As the Lord said, "when you see the abomination of desolation in the Holy Place where it ought not be, let the reader understand".

Published by: Dr. Guy D.
Chicago, Illinois 10/26/2009 05:35 PM EST

Archbishop Timothy Dolan, is an excellent choice for this important role. He will not only develop and enhance respect with the Jewish community, he will also be a shining example to those like Francis, who beleive they know more than the Church Fatthers presiding over Vatican II. Real Roman Catholics support the teachings of the Church and our leaders like Cardinal George and soon to be Cardinal Dolan.

Published by: Francis
Wareham MA 10/24/2009 06:59 PM EST

"USCCB president Cardinal Francis George says Dolan will be a friend to the Jewish community and will convey “profound respect” for others’ spiritual gifts". What "spiritual gifts" does the Talmudists possess??? I guess "being a friend to the Jewish community" means continuing to denying Jesus Christ and his Catholic Church to the Jews!! “Since the Second Vatican Council, important strides in this relationship have been made through dialogue and collaboration in countering racism, anti-Semitism and other offenses against human dignity, the cardinal commented". The only true "offenses against human dignity" since Vatican II is the Catholic Church not bringing Our Lord Jesus Christ to the Jews; and letting them believe that the old covenant, their outdated and false "religion", is valid for salvation!! The only "racism" is allowing the Talmudists, AIPAC and Abe Foxman and the Anti Defamation League to continue to persecute and control the Catholic Church!

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