Pope Benedict XVI has written a follow up to his Jesus of Nazareth book. What’s different about this book is that it addresses the age old smear that Jews are to blame for the crucifixion of Jesus. Anyone who read scripture knows this is not the case. However it was unfortunately part of Catholic theology for several centuries. The reason it was is when the Romans converted to Christianity they didn’t want to admit that it was their ancestors along with Judean puppets who did it, so they smeared the Jews. That all came to end in 1965 with the 2nd Vatican Council where the Church thoroughly rejected this nonsense with their Nostra Aetate declaration.
Now The Pope has taken this a step further. He does a scripture based rejection on the smear against Jews. The importance of this is that Pope Benedict was a theologian. This is beyond a papal statement, but a theological debunking of one of the biggest anti-Semitic lies of all ages.
VATICAN CITY — Pope Benedict XVI has made a sweeping exoneration of the Jewish people for the death of Jesus Christ, tackling one of the most controversial issues in Christianity in a new book.
In “Jesus of Nazareth-Part II” excerpts released Wednesday, Benedict explains biblically and theologically why there is no basis in Scripture for the argument that the Jewish people as a whole were responsible for Jesus’ death.
Interpretations to the contrary have been used for centuries to justify the persecution of Jews.
[…]
The Catholic Church issued its most authoritative teaching on the issue in its 1965 Second Vatican Council document “Nostra Aetate,” which revolutionized the church’s relations with Jews by saying Christ’s death could not be attributed to Jews as a whole at the time or today.
Benedict comes to the same conclusion, but he explains how with a thorough, Gospel-by-Gospel analysis that leaves little doubt that he deeply and personally believes it to be the case: That only a few Temple leaders and a small group of supporters were primarily responsible for Christ’s crucifixion.
That Benedict is a theologian makes “this statement from the Holy See that much more significant for now and for future generations,” said Anti-Defamation League national director, Abraham H. Foxman.
Read it all: Pope exonerates Jews for Jesus’ death in new book
As a Catholic I am glad Pope Benedict XVI decided to do a theological debunking. Although it is already Church teaching, a theological based book by the Pope is huge. This book will take away ammunition from the Jew hating Catholic hold outs and the few Jews who hate the Catholic Church. Hopefully with this book, Catholics and Jews can continue to cultivate closer relations and move forward towards the future.
The Catholic Church isn’t perfect since it’s made up of humans. However it has been, for the most part good for humanity.
(Hat Tip: Lilly)
Tags: Catholic Church, Pope Benedict XVI
