蜜桃交友

By Sr Bernadette Mary Reis, fsp

Cardinal Secretary of State Pietro Parolin contributed concluding remarks in an online virtual symposium held on Thursday afternoon entitled Never Again: Confronting the Global Rise of Anti-Semitism.

The event was hosted by U.S. Ambassador to the Holy See, Callista L. Gingrich. In his remarks, the Cardinal brought contributions from Pope Francis, and cited a recently-discovered letter written in 1916 by then-Secretary of State Cardinal Gasparri.

Ambassador Callista Gingrich provides opening remarks (Photo courtesy of US Embassy to the Holy See)

In her opening remarks, Ambassador Gingrich specifically cited the 2018 attack in Pittsburgh, the more recent attack in Jersey City at the beginning of this year and numerous attacks in New York City. 鈥淓very free society鈥�, she said, 鈥渉as a stake in reversing this trend鈥�. Then her remarks turned to describing the steps taken under the Trump Administration to address the phenomenon both nationally and internationally.

Pope Francis: significant ally

Finally, Ambassador Gingrich extended special words of thanks to Pope Francis. She called him a 鈥渟ignificant ally in the fight against anti-semitism and holocaust denial鈥�, citing remarks he made in January in which he stressed the importance of keeping the memory of the holocaust alive.

She expressed that many Jewish organizations are supportive of Pope Francis鈥檚 decision to anticipate the opening of the holocaust-era Vatican archives and 鈥渨elcome the availability of the records鈥�.

Church and Judaism: partners

Elan S. Carr, U.S. Special Envoy for Monitoring and Combatting Anti-Semitism, reminded participants that anti-semitism is on the rise and is embraced by people all types of ideological camps and religious persuasion. Addressing personal safety issues, criminal prosecution of offenders, promoting the adoption of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance, and monitoring online anti-semitic communication while upholding freedom of speech are some of the ways the United States is actively addressing this reality.

In addition, Mr Carr said that telling the story of the positive contribution of the Jewish people is another key in combatting anti-semitism. He expressed gratitude to the Catholic Church鈥檚 鈥減riority鈥� in combatting anti-semitism. Since 2000, he said, the Church鈥檚 recognition of the importance to educate in Jewish values is helping to replace ignorance and hatred. In this way, the Church is a partner with Judaism in instilling 鈥淎brahamic values鈥� and 鈥済odliness鈥� in today鈥檚 world. Mr Carr also recalled that Pope John Paul II was the first pope to visit Auschwitz and a synagogue and led the way in the Church鈥檚 ability to embrace her Jewish brothers and sisters.

Survival of democracy at stake

Lisa Palmieri-Billig, Representative in Italy and Liaison to the Holy See American Jewish Committee, explored the roots of anti-semitism.

She explained that the search for a scapegoat for economic crises in society is common to the persecution against the Jews. This, she said, was true throughout the history of Europe, and is true in the various other geographical areas where anti-semitism now appears. While citing the unfortunate fact that anti-semitism was compounded by the Christian teaching of contempt enshrined in European culture through art, she said she is grateful for the cooperation that various churches are now providing, especially in such areas as education and law.

鈥淭he stake鈥�, she said, 鈥渋s not anti-semitism alone, but the health and survival of democracy itself鈥�. She concluded saying that 鈥渋nterreligious dialogue, cooperation and solidarity鈥� are the positive means to achieve this.

Historical memory

Picking up the thread of the need to remember the past, Dr. Suzanne Brown-Fleming, Director of International Academic Programs United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, recalled Cardinal Lustiger鈥檚 visit to the museum. She recalled his words during his visit that the holocaust needed to be documented.

The survivors of the holocaust, she recalls the Cardinal saying, are witnesses to the fact that 鈥渉atred leads to death鈥�. The mission of the Holocaust Museum is, therefore, very important in helping to preserve the memory of what happened. She too expressed appreciation to Pope Francis for the anticipated opening of the Vatican archives which allow historians to do this work.

From contempt to respect

Speaking specifically from the perspective of a Jewish Rabbi, Rabbi David Meyer, Lecturer Cardinal Bea Centre for Judaic Studies Pontifical Gregorian University, said that the traditional role of a rabbi is that of comforting people during times of suffering. When thinking of anti-semitism, he shared the verse from the Torah that resonates for him which is repeated both before and after the flood: 鈥渢he thoughts of the human heart are continually evil鈥� (Genesis 6:5; 8:21) 鈥淚s there anything darker鈥�, he asked, than the violence the Jewish community has experienced over and over again?

Nonetheless, Rabbi Meyer鈥檚 asks if this darkness can be 鈥渂rightened鈥� and 鈥渄efeated鈥�. The answer, he says, is yes, because it has already been done. Beginning with Nostrae aetate, the Catholic Church鈥檚 teaching of contempt has been transformed into a teaching of respect, thus demonstrating that anti-semitism can be transformed within a society that promoted it. This is a 鈥渟uccessful battle鈥�, Rabbi Meyer said, from which 鈥減ractical insights鈥� can be drawn to fight anti-semitism where it is currently manifesting itself. The three tools necessary are: passion, aiming high and audacity.

Rabbi David Meyer

Promoters of peace find joy

Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Holy See Secretary of State, provided the closing remarks for the symposium. He echoed Pope Francis鈥檚 words that any form of anti-semitism is 鈥渁 rejection of our Christian origins鈥�, and is thus a contradiction. Fratelli tutti offers a reflection, he said, on distortions of 鈥渇undamental concepts鈥� such as democracy, freedom, indifference, the 鈥渓oss of the meaning of the sense of history鈥� and racism which are also reflected in anti-semitism.

The Cardinal then quoted a recently discovered document written by his predecessor, Secretary of State Cardinal Gasparri in 1916. It was written in response to a letter from the American Jewish Committee asking for a response to violence against Jews in the context of World War I. Writing on behalf of Pope Benedict XV, Cardinal Gasparri wrote that the natural rights due to human beings should also be 鈥�observed and respected in relation to the children of Israel as it should be as for all men, for it would not conform to justice and to religion itself to derogate there from solely because of a difference of religious faith鈥�.

Then, he also cited the reaction to this letter on the part of the American Jewish Committee. They called it a 鈥渧irtual encyclical鈥�, and wrote that:

鈥�Among all the papal bulls ever issued with regard to Jews throughout the history of the Vatican, there is no statement that equals this direct, unmistakable plea for equality for the Jews, and against prejudice upon religious grounds鈥�.

Cardinal Parolin then emphasized the place of historical memory stating that 鈥渋n order to overcome so many deplorable forms of hate we need the capacity to involve ourselves together in remembering. Memory鈥�, he said, 鈥渋s the key to accessing the future and it is our responsibility to hand it on in a dignified way to young generations鈥�.

Cardinal Parolin concluded saying that interreligious dialogue is an indispensable tool to combat anti-semitism. Fraternity, he said, is built on the truth held by various religious that each human person is 鈥渃alled to be a child of God鈥�.

鈥淚t is my hope that the more Christians and Jews grow in fraternity, social friendship and dialogue, the less anti-semitism will be possible because 鈥榙eceit is in the mind of those who plan evil, but those who counsel peace have joy鈥� (Prov 12:20). Shalom!"