ABOUT THE CHURCH AND THE VATICAN

Italian Jews agree to resume
joint observance of
Day for Judaism in 2010


ROME, Sept. 22 (SIR) - Today Card. Angelo Bagnasco, President of the Italian Bishops’ Conference, had a meeting with Giuseppe Laras, President of the Rabbinical Council of Italy, and Riccardo Di Segni, Chief Rabbi of the Jewish Community in Rome.

Among other things, the rabbis agreed to resume the joint observance of a Day of Reflection on Jewish-Christian Relations next January 17. The Rabbinical Assembly of Italy decided not to join the observance in 2009 after the Rabbi of Venice launched a fresh assault in November 2008 against Benedict XVI over the Good Friday prayer, more than a year after Benwedict'x revision of the prayer, which some JEws continue to denounce.

[The Day of Judaism is observed by the Church with local Jewish communities in Italy, Poland, Austria and Netherlands on the same day, Jan. 17. The back ground for the Italian Jews' protest may be found on]
freeforumzone.leonardo.it/discussione.aspx?idd=354494&p=241

A statement released by the Italian Bishops’ Conference said “the Cardinal wanted to express his cordial wishes for the beginning of the Jewish year and asked the Rabbis to pass them on to all Italian Jews”.

During the meeting the cardinal and the two rabbis had the opportunity to discuss some “open issues” with the Jewish Community in relation to the Good Friday prayer “Oremus et pro Iudaeis”reviesed in 2007 by Benedict XVI after liberalizing the traditional rite which uses the prayer.

In this regard, the statement points out that “there is absolutely no change in the attitude the Catholic Church has had towards the Jews since the Second Vatican Council”. Accordingly, the Italian Bishops’ Conference reaffirms that “it is not its intention to actively pursue the conversion of Jews”.

At today’s meeting, the cardinal also expressed his “concern about those episodes of anti-Semitism and anti-Judaism that are occurring from time to time, reaffirming the need to retain strong vigilance and expressing the hope that relations between the two parties may become stronger”.