Are Catholics Guilty
Of Anti-Semitism?
SAN FRANCISCO — (NC) — Anti-Semitism is wide
spread among Catholics even though generally “unrecog
nized and denied,” according to a member of the American
bishops’ subcommission for formal contacts with the Jewish
community.
Father Edward H. Flannery, editor of the Providence
Visitor, diocesan weekly for Rhode Island, told the Catholic
Press Association that anti-Semitism on the part of Catho
lics is “the chief stumbling block in the path toward better
Jewish-Christian relations.” The problem of Jewish-Chris
tian relations should be given “the first priority on the
ecumenical agenda,” he declared, as it “will be the touch
stone of our success in all others.”
The priest, author of the widely-acclaimed history of
anti-Semitism entitled “The Anguish of the Jews,” address
ed the 56th annual convention of the CPA on the topic
“Ecumenism and the Press Today.”
He said that the word ecumenism has now reverted to
the implications of the original Greek (oekoumene), which
means the “whole civilized world.” Thus it hag been ex
panded from the “all-Christian” context it took on in the
first part of this century to include conversations and for
mal contacts with Jews.
Father Flannery went on to say:
“Indeed there is actually a special obligation incum
bent upon us to include Jews in our dialogues. Following
the lead of Pius XII and John XXIII and Paul VI, the Vati
can council has called for conversations with all men of
good will. But we are tied to Jews by a double bond, a bond
of guilt and a bond of affection. The bond of guilt tells of
our anti-Semitism; the bond of affection, of our Judaic
roots.”
Of the Vatican council’s declaration on the Jews, Fa
ther Flannery noted that it has proved entirely satisfactory
to few people. “Perhaps the declaration’s main defect,” he
said, “was its failure to refer contritely to the role the
Church played in the development of anti-Semitism
throughout Christian history.”
What the Vatican II declaration does, said Father
Flannery, is to put “aright a grave distortion of almost two
thousand years’ standing” — the belief that the Jews of the
crucifixion of Jesus were cursed by God. This belief —
which “left a trail of blood in its wake” — has now been
totally rejected. The priest said that what the council did
was to return to “the true teaching of the Church regarding
the Jews . . . rooted ultimately in Jesus’ personal love for
His people.” The thrust comes from St. Paul’s teaching:
“More than other peoples, Jews are to the Christian ‘most
dear.’ ”
But Father Flannery held that the fact of the council
declaration is not enough to heal the ancient wounds:
“It would be an error to believe that the brief state
ment of the declaration on the Jews of the council is enough
to dispel the bitter heritage of 2,000 years. The fact is that
anti-Semitism is widespread among Catholics, though it is
generally unrecognized and denied. I have never 'met an
anti-Semite who admitted that he was one. And I have
met many who make light of the problem who
have forgotten even having heard of the deicide charge, and
who are totally ignorant of what happened to Jews in his
tory ... Our repressions are rugged and our rationaliza
tions clever.”
The Providence priest said he believes that the deepest
psychological cause of anti-Semitism is “Christophobia —
an unconscious hatred of Jesus Christ.” He explained:
“Jesus stands in the unconscious as a hated Repressor, for
whom the Jews stand in as a substitute. The general rule,
as I see it, is that to the degree that the Christian finds his
Christianity a yoke or a burden, to that degree he is anti
Semitic.”
Father Flannery charged that some segments of the
Catholic press itself indulge in anti-Semitism in “disguised
ways,” such as “by featuring every Jewish insistence on
rigid separation of Church and State or on any Jewish in
volvement in unsavory affairs.”
As for the broad spectrum of ecumenism, he asserted:
“Even though the problem of Jewish-Catholic relations
is not located at the center of ecumenism in its strict sense,
it should nonetheless be given the first priority on the ecu
menical agenda. The reunion of Christian churches, usually
considered the first program of ecumenism, can in a sense,
indeed must, await God’s good time. An evil such as anti
Semitism is a problem whose solution can never wait . . .
“I cannot down the idea that the measure to which we
succeed in this area of ecumenism will be the touchstone of
our success in all others.”
NORTH CAROUNA CATHOLIC
The Weekly North Carolina Cathode newspaper of news and views
(Served by N.C.W.C. News Service and NC Photos—Member of
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:tjon.) The North Carolina Catholic does not necessarily reflect official posi
: tions of this Association nor the official position of the Catholic Church in
: matters outside the field of faith and morals.
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Volume XX, No. 88
May 15, 1966
Mi
May 19: Ascension
■ • ' r - i r if n.
Chariot
Short Stay — Long Memories!
The Week lit Liturgy By Rev. Paschal Boland, O.S.B.
God, Man and Paradise
May 15
FIFTH SUNDAY AFTER EASTER. Does
God really care about people? Does He really
care about what happens to you or me? If we
have ever doubted about God’s love for us, do
not these words of Christ dispel our doubts,
“Truly, I tell you that whatever you ask of the
Father He will give you in My name” (Gospel).
Our needs are many at times; and for some
there is a continual need for assistance. Also,
needs vary; some are material, some spiritual,
some psychological; or intellectual, or physical.
For any or all of these needs we can receive
divine help. Christ promised this. He also told
us why we would receive it, “For the Father
Himself loves you because you love Me and be
lieve that I came from the Father” (Gospel).
The history of the People of God, those who
believe in Him, records numerous instances of
God’s love and help, even miraculous at times.
One era was that of Moses who led the People
of God out of Egypt guided by a pillar of fire
at night and a cloud by day. Fed by manna in
the desert, they finally reached the fertile land
“overflowing with milk and honey.” A new era
for the People of God has opened under the
inspired leadership of Popes John and Paul.
Vatican II is proof in our day that God does
care for us.
Priest Names New
Birth Control Pill
WASHINGTON — (NC) — The director of
the Family Life Bureau, National Catholic Wel
fare Conference, has coined a name for the
latest birth control pill.
“It is remarkable how quickly the new
anti-life pill, recently announced by Yale Uni
versity scientists, has been labeled the ‘morn
ing after pill,’ ” Msgr. John C. Knott said here.
“Taken within six days after intercourse it will
eliminate any possibility of pregnancy.
“The interesting thing is the mode of action
of the drug as described in news accounts. The
pill allows the egg to be fertilized, but then it
eliminates the natural home of the new human
being.
“Thus, it might also be called the no-room
in-the-womb pill,” Msgr. Knott said.
The new drug, now in the experimental
stage, was described recently by Dr. Gertrude
van Wagenen of Yale to a medical meeting in
Chicago. Preventing the implantation of a fer
tilized ovum — as the new drug reportedly does
— is regarded as abortion in Catholic moral
teaching.
Monday, May 16
ST. UBALD. The biography of this 12th
century bishop of Gubbio, Italy, is that of a man
who was a father to his people. “He found grace
before the Lord who made him great in the
eyes of kings” (1st Lesson).
Today, Tuesday, and Wednesday are Ro
gation Days.
Tuesday, May 17
ST. PASCHAL BAYLON. When Pope Paul
VI journeyed to India for the Eucharistic Con
gress, few people realized that the heavenly pa
tron of such congresses is a 16th-century Span
ish Franciscan lay Brother. This honor was
conferred on him by Pope Leo XIII because
of St. Paschal’s extraordinary devotion to the
Holy Eucharist. Like him “may we receive rich
blessings” from such devotion (Prayer of the
Assembly).
Wednesday, May 18
VIGIL OF THE ASCENSION. After His
resurrection Christ appeared and reappeared to
His Apostles and disciples at various times for
40 days. He was not among them as He had been
before His resurrection when they knew where
He was when He was not with them. It was a
very mysterious experience for them. However,
it gradually prepared them to live by faith when
He would be ascended into heaven.
Ihursday, May ly
ASCENSION OF OUR LORD JESUS
CHRIST. The ascension of Our Lord into heaven
was the final act of the life He had led with men
on earth. It was an action that also manifested
His divinity.
Having fulfilled His own mission, He im
posed a mission on His chosen Apostles that was
to endure to the end of time, “Go forth to the
whole world, proclaim the Good News to all
creation” (Gospel). He promised that those who
believed would be given divine gifts, “In My
name they will cast out demons; they will speak
in tongues . . . they will lay hands on the sick
and they will recover” (Gospel).
Friday, May 20
ST. BERNARDINE. A 15th-century exam
ple of one who believed in Christ and was given
special divine gifts was this Franciscan priest of
Siena. He not only brought thousands to a fer
vent practice of the faith, but also attracted
many followers into his own order. Vocations
increased from 300 friars to over 4,000 in Italy
during the 64 years of his life. “O Lord, You
imbued blessed Bernardine with wondrous love
of Your name” (Prayer of the Assembly).
Saturday, May 21
MASS OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY
FOR SATURDAY. She who witnessed the birth
of Christ, witnessed His death and His ascen
sion into heaven. With the Apostles, after the
ascension, the Blessed Virgin Mary returned to
the upper room, “All these with one mind con
tinued steadfastly in prayer with the women
and Mary, the Mother of Jesus, and with His
brethren” (Acts: 1, 14).