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The Catholic Church has no intention of converting Jews to Christianity. Therefore, the Pope advocated a Jewish bishop in Israel.

Well, 40 years ago in the Second Vatican Council, the Church adopted a new theological position toward Israel as God’s chosen people. The Catholic Church does not replace the Jewish people with whom God made an eternal covenant.

I knew then that the Church’s theology was wrong concerning the Jewish people. But what was worse for me was being disowned by my Jewish family and friends for joining the Church.

Another example of the recent “conservative” appointments by Pope John Paul II to bring about the long awaited Springtime of VC II.

This is really nauseating. Whenever I behold the building blocks of the "Civilization of Love," such as this heretic in Jerusalem, I try to comfort myself with the following mantra: "Council of Florence, Council of Florence...."

Oh yes, how horrible that an ethnic Jew converts to Catholicism and then becomes a bishop. We certainly don't want any of their kind around! Too bad about St. James the Apostle, as well as, well, Christ, Our Lady and all the apostles -- they were all Jews! /sarcasm> When he says that he still feels Jewish, presumably he is saying that Catholicism includes Judaism (i.e., the Old Testament) as a foundation, but obviously so much more as well, as set forth in the new covenant, which is in the New Testament, which the man obviously accepts since he referred to that. I don't agree with him on the issue of evangelizing Jews, since, as I pray on Good Friday, I hope that the Jewish people would acknowledge Christ and understand the full meaning of the covenant. The "theological" change that he mentions does not relate to the deposit of faith. To the extent that such a person can be an example to bring Jews into the Church, I would say more power to him.

BENEDICTINE!!!
O MY GOODNESS!!!
Irish, meet the next Pope?!!
HOLY COW, this literally knocked me out of my chair.
The prophecies of Malachi depicted one last Pope after "The Labor of the Sun" (Pope John Paul II was born during an eclipse) before "Peter the Roman" (although there may be several *unnamed* popes in between). This next-to-last identified pope was called the "Glory of the Olives."

The Benedictines have long insisted that meant that he would be one of them. I forget how, but they have always been identified with olives.

I, personally, have anticipated that the "olives," rather, meant the Jews, after Romans 11. The glory of the olives, then would be someone who was Jewish, or possibly even, someone who would lead the remnant Jews to the "tree" (Christ).

This would seem to suggest, however, and end of times scenario, so I was never comfortable with it, or Malachi's prophecies. But going with the end-times, the glory of the olives could also mean a great peace-maker.

Imagine! Someone who meets both mine and the Benedictine's interpretation of the prophecy at the same time!

Explaining how he, as a Jew, became a Catholic, he told us: “For me, Christianity and Judaism are the same. I didn’t have to leave Judaism to come to Christianity. The Jew and the Christian form the same body.”

Even if we don’t have official contacts with Messianic Judaism, I personally have close ties with Messianic Jews in the country. All in all,we are one family.

[My family] had a very hard time. They were shocked and saw me as a traitor. My brother and two sisters could hardly get over my belief in Jesus.

Oooooooh, this must really hurt the “Catholic is the only way” crowd. So much good material. I will only say this is one honorable bishop who gets it.

“He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me; and he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me.” Matt 10:35