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Papal apology appraisal
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GREAT NECK, N.Y. - During the past 35 years, beginning with the Second
Vatican Council, the Catholic Church has made giant gestures of rapprochement
toward the Jewish community, going so far as to even change parts
of its 2000-year-old theology, something unmatched by other religious
faiths.
Most notable has been its vote to absolve Jews of deicide - a charge
that was often an impetus to pogroms, a proclamation that anti-Semitism
is a "sin," a declaration that the Jews' covenant with God is
irrevocable,
and a reference to Jews as "brothers." These are sweeping
changes.
Thanks to Pope John Paul II, Catholics are no longer permitted to
seek Jewish conversion. (Ironically, Reform Judaism has now embarked
on an "outreach" program designed to "enlighten" non-Jews
toward possible
conversion to Judaism.) And just last week, John Paul II kicked-off
Lent service by asking "God forgiveness for past and present sins
against Jews." Cardinals present rose and confessed, in a ritualized
atonement ceremony, the aforementioned sin against the Jewish people.
Instead of a gracious acceptance of these humbling acts of forgiveness,
many prominent Jewish organizational leaders involved in Catholic-
Jewish relations have responded with "disappointment." "It
does not
go far enough," many said, reminiscent of how media-appointed leaders
in the black political community remain unwilling to accept bold and
heartfelt efforts by white Americans who have acknowledged the sins
of slavery and discrimination and have enacted all sorts of legislation
and measures to redress this past. Following the pattern established
by the black political class, Jewish leaders will "milk the guilt"
felt by many good-willed Catholic representatives for further acts
of atonement. But that is simply hucksterism.
As with many black spokesmen Jewish leaders are unwilling to, finally,
accept these heartfelt apologies, for by so doing they relinquish
the cherished moral high ground that comes through maintaining the
aggrieved status. Clearing the slate makes an equal playing field,
one that many Jewish and black leaders are unwilling to cede after
luxuriating so many years in the moral superiority that victim-status
offers.
Furthermore, by accepting an apology, these leaders will no longer
be in a position of power -power derived by making the seeker of forgiveness
continue to fawn and bend over backward for their approval. The game
would be over - and so would their prominence that comes through it.
For many Jews, nothing would be left of their Judaism if anti-Christianity
and anti-Catholicism were removed from their Weltanschauung. By accepting
the apology, Christianity loses its demon status. What then keeps
Jewishness superior? In fact, Jews might be forced to re-evaluate,
in a favorable light, the enemy they love to hate: the Protestant
Christian Coalition. If so, why even get up in the morning. There
would be no justification for Christian-bashing.
Similarly, many blacks would be left rudderless if the anti-white
grievance-anchor was taken from them. The past few decades have created
a dependence of many ethnic, religious and racial minorities on finding
their meaning through an "anti-ness."
One suspects yet another obstacle will be found by those against final
peace and rapprochement, so the familiar and comfortable mantras can
continue unabated, namely, that the other side really hasn't changed
that much.
Quite often, "aggrieved" parties - be they Jewish, black or Arab
leaders
- remain immature since their grievance stands in the way of learning
how to be gracious, compromise, accept extended good will and, especially,
how to move on. Continued focus on such leaders leads to a myopic
self-centeredness and an insatiable appetite for more concessions
on their part. We have pampered them and made them spoiled - worse,
smug.
Some Jewish leaders complain that the Catholic Church should actually
condemn Pope Pius XII. But Pius did not perpetrate the Holocaust.
These leaders forget it was Adolf Hitler, not Pius. Perhaps Pius
could have done more, but omission is not commission. Perhaps Pius
was too reticent, in the hope of sparing the community he was entrusted
to protect, as has been the case of many leaders - including Jewish
ones - throughout history. Perhaps a study should be made ascertaining
how often and how many Jewish people risked their lives by opening
their homes to members of attacked ethnic groups during the bloody
years in medieval Europe, Asia and the Orient.
It is as if some are expecting that if only the Church would enunciate
the "right" mea culpa over Pius the Holocaust would, retroactively,
not have happened. But it did happen, and confessions that lay it
at the feet of Pius are false and cannot erase what Hitler wrought.
The church has done the right thing. It should now move on. The
only thing they've done wrong during the last 20 years in Catholic-
Jewish relations is choosing to dialogue with the wrong Jewish leaders.
Good will is being thrown away on the preferred altar of
self-righteousness.
Sooner or later proud Catholic laymen will become hurt by the rebuffs
and negative reaction among many Jewish leaders. If the Catholic
Church really cares about the Jewish community, it should, for the
sake of their Jewish brothers, end communication with these leaders
before Catholic frustration evolves into rightful anger. Meanwhile,
in behalf of many, I wish to say to Pope John Paul II and his emissaries:
Thank You.
Rabbi Aryeh Spero is president of the National Coalition of Black
and Jewish Americans in New York.
Copyright © 2000 News World Communications, Inc.
Rabbi Aryeh Spero, Papal apology appraisal. , The Washington Times,
03-26-2000, pp B4.
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