The Vatican on Muslims and Jews
The pope has offended some followers of other faiths but may be mending fences
Benedict seems to want to clarify this position, experts say, and to re-emphasize the primacy of the Catholic Church, and Jesus Christ, among faiths. He took his most visible step in this direction in 2000 when, as the head of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, the Vatican organization tasked with safeguarding church doctrine, he oversaw the release of a church document, Dominus Iesus, that sought to restate the church's theological position. The document acknowledged that the "Church of Christ" was present in other Christian churches but insisted, in spite of John Paul's friendly words, that the Catholic Church was the only one where it existed in its fullest form. A theological line was drawn in the sand: "If it is true that the followers of other religions can receive divine grace," the document said, "it is also certain that objectively speaking they are in a gravely deficient situation in comparison with those who, in the Church, have the fullness of the means of salvation."
These statements, religious scholars say, may not have represented a theological shift in the Vatican, where Catholic supremacy was always assumed, but they did signal a rhetorical one—a return, of sorts, to a more forthright defense of Catholicism. John Paul, when he was pope, emphasized a "unity of faith" across religions, starting the "World Day of Prayer" and meeting other religious leaders for peace vigils in Assisi. "A lot of progress was made on that front," says the Rev. Paul Crowley, a Jesuit priest and chair of the religious studies department at Santa Clara University. "But in some ways, those are the easier steps. When you get to the more substantial theological issues, then it's more difficult to move beyond the desire for dialogue to actual substantive agreement."
That is where Benedict appears to find himself today. "Eventually, after you start talking, you start to face hard issues," says Frank Flinn, an adjunct professor of religious studies at Washington University in St. Louis and the author of the Encyclopedia of Catholicism. "What do you do about converting people? What do you do about spreading your faith? It's a challenge." Benedict seems likely to continue to reach out to other religious groups—he's making a special trip to visit a synagogue in New York this week—but he appears equally comfortable emphasizing the differences between faiths, even among Christian churches. "In sharpening the focus on some of the differences, he's really encouraging all of the churches to address things more seriously [than they have in the past], rather than settle down to a more happy truce," says Rausch.
This is also true of the Vatican's relationship with Islam. "In the relationship between Catholicism and Islam, under John Paul, there was a tendency to avoid some of the very difficult issues," says Rausch. "One thing the Regensburg address made very clear is that Pope Benedict is challenging Islam to deal in a more explicit way with the relationship between faith and reason. I think it's unfortunate that he used that quotation, but he was trying to raise the question of religion and violence and the role of reason in dialogue with faith, and I think he did that." Many observers also give Benedict credit for challenging predominantly Muslim nations to be as accepting of other religions, particularly Christianity, as western nations have been of Islam. The Gulf state of Qatar has recently permitted the building of a Catholic church within its borders, and Saudi Arabia is at least debating the possibility of doing the same.
Especially when he talks about Islam, scholars say, it is important to understand where Benedict, a German, is coming from. "Benedict's approach to Islam is really deeply shaped by the fact that he is a European, and the experience of Islam in Europe is so different than it is here," says Crowley. Benedict has genuine concerns about Islamic fundamentalism and the use of violence, along with the decline of Christianity in Europe—and the rise of Islam there. According to one estimate, between 25 million and 50 million Catholics stopped going to church during the papacy of John Paul II. Benedict, in his words and even his choice of papal names (St. Benedict is the patron saint of Europe), seems determined to try to revive the church on the Continent, and that means pushing back, in some way, against Islam. "He says we need to be more than simply polite to each other; we need to talk about real differences between us," says Rausch. "He's pushing for a more honest airing of some of these issues, which have to do with human rights and the whole question of church and state. He's challenging other traditions to face these same questions."
Reader Comments
Hippocracy
As long as orgs such as the ADL and their offspring feel the need to disparage christianity at every turn and whine like children when their own religion comes under *ANY* sort of criticism. Jews especially want to be treated as somehow special people yet are the most vindictive group of people on the planet. Muslims, in my opinion, were always tolerant of everyone until we began butting into their lives and their countries. The jew is the one causing world problems, it may sound anti-semitic but if you open your eyes and see without blinders, it pretty obvious who is the antagonist.
Vatican on Muslims and Jews
Morton:
1) Jesus, Peter, and Paul were genetically Jewish but the first Christians - converted from religion of Judaism. I miss your basis for saying they were never Christians. The term Christian means "little Christs" - surely Christ was Christ and Peter and Paul both acknowleged Jesus' teachings as authoritative to amend and even supersede the Mosiac law. For example, Christ's teaching's on lust and adultery.
2) "Paul was subject to epilectic fits": Please point out a book of antiquity that initimates this. I have never heard anyone make this claim.
3) Paul's teachings were a "Hellenic amalgam of idolatry and vindictivness": What about Paul's writings were representative of Greek idolatry?
4) "as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached" - in the spirit of validating truth or lies - can you validate for me if indeed this is teaching of Muhamad. I have heard from various sources that it is in fact a teaching of Muhammed.
Thanks for thoughts.
No World Peace Without A Third Jewish Temple
The Holy Bible, New International Version. Mt 23:5.
Mt 23:5 “Everything they do is done for men to see: r They make their phylacteries 100 s wide and the tassels on their garments t long;
Mt 23:6 they love the place of honor at banquets and the most important seats in the synagogues; u
Mt 23:7 they love to be greeted in the marketplaces and to have men call them ‘Rabbi.’ v
Mt 23:8 “But you are not to be called ‘Rabbi,’ for you have only one Master and you are all brothers.
Mt 23:9 And do not call anyone on earth ‘father,’ for you have one Father, w and he is in heaven.
Mt 23:10 Nor are you to be called ‘teacher,’ for you have one Teacher, the Christ. 101
Mt 23:11 The greatest among you will be your servant. x
Mt 23:12 For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted. y
Get your pagan sun god wafer out and take communion!
THE POPE CALLS HIMSELF NOT JUST ‘FATHER’, but ‘HOLY FATHER.’ This is a clear violation of Scriptures. Yes, the Jewish priests call themselves, ‘Rabbi,’ the Catholic Pope & Priests call themselves, ‘Father,’ and secular authorities call their scholastic leaders, ‘Teacher,’ however, my only FATHER is the God of Israel, who alone is Messiah.
The Holy Bible, New International Version. Isa 43:11.
Isa 43:11 I, even I, am the LORD, m and apart from me there is no savior. n
The Holy Bible, New International Version. Isa 44:6.
I am the first and I am the last; i apart from me there is no God. j
So why would Catholics pray to MARY or THE SAINTS?
To pray to anyone other than the god of Israel breaks the first two commandments. You can’t set any god beside the God of Israel or replace his throne with another name like Allah.
Christians believe in the God of Israel as EXCLUSIVE FATHER, but what Christians believe, that Jewish Believers don’t believe, is that the God of Israel became a human being for 33 years and that the great secret of Jesus Christ is that the God of Israel, as our exclusive Messiah, died on the cross in the name of Yeshua/Jesus. In other words, the God of Abraham, Issac,, Jacob, David, and Solomon joined us in our human race through the Name of Jesus. Jesus is not on a second seat next to God as this would violate the Ten Commandments. Jesus was and is the God of Israel and the God of Israel IS THE EXCLUSIVE MESSIAH AND HOLY SPIRIT.
Nobody can sit on the Throne of the God of Israel and be called: FATHER!
Yet, the Pope sits on a fancy throne and is worshiped as ‘Father.’
Catholicism is one of the greatest cults next to Islam in the world today.
The Holy Bible, New International Version. Isa 45:21.
And there is no God apart from me, t a righteous God u and a Savior; v there is none but me.
And have you ever noticed that Catholics talk about ‘Christ’ but never say the Name of Jesus or pray: GOD OF ISRAEL IN JESUS’ NAME?
They never ever say: GOD OF ISRAEL!
As it is clear we are not to call anyone on earth ‘Father,’ Catholics violate this Scripture. And why sing songs in Latin or speak in Latin. A few good words in English would be better, like Bill O’Reilly at Fox News who is the only Roman Catholic I have ever seen on any news station that makes any sense.
I separate Bill O’Reilly the man, from the Roman Catholic Church and would not insult Bill O’Reilly by offending him with what I know to be true and honest – which is that Catholicism, like Islam, is a lie.
So we need to tell all Catholics to put away their pagan sun god wafer, which is communion with Satan, and join Israel’s cause in building the Third Temple on the Temple Mount.
The Pope needs to repent, take off his royal vestments, and remove all Catholic Churches from the Land of Israel as a sign of LOVE and PEACE. LOVE and PEACE can only come from TOLERANCE and Catholics must TOLERATE the belief that on the Land of Israel, Catholicism, like Islam cannot be tolerated. If the Pope wants to promote peace between Palestinians and Israel, then he needs to help Israel by removing Palestine off Israeli soil too!
Yeah, the Catholic Church has a lot of MONEY. Yes, Catholic leaders blessed Hitler when he was in power; Catholic leaders blessed the Italian mafia mobsters; Catholic leaders blessed homosexual priests who molested little children; Catholic leaders all throughout medieval times oppressed the Jewish people and never helped the Jews settle back in the Land of Israel; and today, the Catholic Church is blessing the United Nations while having communion with their pagan sun god worship through the sun god wafer; the Catholic Church is promoting pagan tolerance; pagan unity; pagan peace; pagan love; and aren’t ALL RELIGIONS wonderful!
I’ve got one Latin word for the Pope and I sing: KUM-BAY-YA!
If the Pope seeks forgiveness, let him remove all idols from the soil of Israel and help Israel build the Third Temple on the Temple Mount, while removing all Catholic Churches from Israeli soil!
Throw that golden cup into the garbage, for you are not communing with Jesus Christ – but another Christ in harmony with the Galatians 1 warning.
There is only ONE MESSIAH AND LORD AND FATHER and that is the God of Israel, who alone is Messiah and Father.
Let all Israelis and Jews who are faithful to the cause of the Third Jewish Temple consider that CATHOLICISM has nothing to do with the God of Israel or anything to do with REAL CHRISTIANITY.
I could sit on my toilet and this pearly white porcellian throne would be just as sacred as the pope’s throne. So tell the Catholic Pope to get back into his glass box and go back to Rome! Leave America and Israel alone!
Sure, the Pope can preach LOVE FOR THE POOR in America all he wants and promote the idea that SANCTUARY CITIES for ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS IN AMERICA is part of Catholic compassion, however, where is GOD’S SANCTUARY ON THE TEMPLE MOUNT? Of course illegal immigration is encouraged – the POPE RULES FROM ROME! He could hardly care less about America’s National Security!
Cardinal Mahoney, who was up for the Pope’s seat, kicks the homeless away from his twelve story office building in Los Angeles! Quite contrary to their missions of mercy and love! And just what is the Catholic positions on ISRAEL’S RIGHT TO PRAY ON THE TEMPLE MOUNT AND BUILD THE THIRD TEMPLE? There is none.
Get that Pope Mobile off of the God of Israel’s land and property please and send him right back to Rome where he can continue partaking of his sun god worship, who blesses those who curse Israel.
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