Posted on 06/09/2014 5:07:40 PM PDT by Mrs. Don-o
I strongly disagree with Caroline Glick’s conclusion in her May 27 article that Pope Francis “is leading the Catholic Church in a distressingly anti-Jewish direction.” I can understand Caroline’s distress at some of the pope’s actions and words but it is important to have balance and not draw wrong conclusions.
Pope Francis is totally committed to reconciliation between the Church and Israel. I would like to demonstrate this under five headings:
1. State of Israel Pope Francis in his first Encyclical in November 2013 affirmed God’s everlasting covenant with the Jews: “We hold the Jewish people in special regard because their covenant with God has never been revoked, for ‘the gifts and the call of God are irrevocable’ (Rom 11:29).”
It is noteworthy that Pope Francis reappointed Father Raniero Cantalamessa as preacher to the papal household.
Fr. Cantalamessa, a renowned bible scholar and teacher, in his book The Mystery of Christmas affirmed the everlasting covenant, writing, “We share with the Jews the biblical certainty that God gave them the country of Canaan forever (Genesis 17:8, Isaiah 43:5, Jeremiah 32:22, Ezekiel 36:24, Amos 9:14). We know that the gifts and the call of God are irrevocable.”
Other senior Catholic leaders have publicly affirmed the eternal covenant with the Jews. For example, Cardinal Schoenborn from Austria stated “Christians should rejoice in Jews’ return to Israel as a fulfillment of biblical prophecy.” He stressed “the doctrinal importance to Christians of not only recognizing Jews’ connection to the land, but also ensuring that Christian identification with the Jewish Bible not lead to a ‘usurpation’ of Jewish uniqueness.
Only once in human history did God take a country as an inheritance and give it to His chosen people.”
2. Anti-Semitism Pope Francis has been at the forefront in condemning anti-Semitism.
It is not just when he is meeting Israeli dignitaries like President Shimon Peres last week, when he said, “There is need for a firm rejection of...
anti-Semitism in all its possible expressions,” but he has been involved in educating ordinary Catholics around the world on this issue.
In his November Encyclical Pope Francis teaches: “As Christians, we cannot consider Judaism as a foreign religion. Dialogue and friendship with the children of Israel are part of the life of Jesus’ disciples. The friendship which has grown between us makes us bitterly and sincerely regret the terrible persecutions which they have endured, and continue to endure, especially those that have involved Christians.”
Under Pope Francis’s tenure the Vatican continues to make immense strides in combating anti-Semitism.
For example, there have now been 22 meetings of The International Catholic-Jewish Liaison Committee (ILC). The ILC is the official forum for ongoing dialogue between the Vatican and international Jewish leaders. Its 22nd meeting took place in Spain, from 13-16 October, 2013.
It condemned the current rise of anti-Semitism and the growing phenomenon of Christian persecution.
3. Church and Israel linked together There are on going attempts at the de-judaization of Jesus, Mary and the apostles in popular Middle East Christian culture. Pope Francis in his Encyclical in November wrote, “The Church, which shares with Jews an important part of the sacred Scriptures, looks upon the people of the covenant and their faith as one of the sacred roots of her own Christian identity (Romans 11:16-18).”
He was echoing the teaching of Nostra Aetate and Pope Benedict that “the Church of the Gentiles is like a wild olive shoot, grafted onto the good olive tree that is the people of the Covenant (Romans 11:17-24).
In other words, we draw our nourishment from the same spiritual roots.” (Apostolic Exhortation Sept 2010).
4. Replacement Theology Caroline Glick implied that Pope Francis had adopted “replacement theology during his homily in Bethlehem.”
I am confident this is not the case. Caroline observed that “In his sermon [Latin Patriarch Fouad] Twal accused Israelis of being the present-day version of Christ killers by referring to the Palestinians as walking ‘in the footsteps of the divine child,’ and likening the Israelis to King Herod.” Pope Francis, however, did not affirm these comments but turned them around by comparing all of us to Herod.
Senior Catholic clergy who espouse replacement theology are actually denying the official teaching of the Catholic Church clearly expressed in the Declaration Nostra Aetate, in the Catechism of the Catholic Church and in numerous declarations by John Paul II, Benedict XVI and Francis. The official RC position on replacement theology is very clear. Senior Vatican Cardinal Walter Kasper set it out in 2003 in a major paper on “Anti-Semitism: A wound to be healed” that:
1. The Church does not replace Israel, but is grafted onto it.
2. A complete break between the Church and the Synagogue is in contradiction to sacred scripture.
3. God did not abandon his Covenant with the Jews.
This clear teaching on replacement theology is reaffirmed by many Catholic theologians around the world. Father Dermot Lane of Ireland wrote in his recent book Stepping Stones to Other Religions: “God’s Covenant with the Jews has never been revoked... and therefore theories of supercessionism, substitution and replacement, which have been in existence since the second century, must now be put aside.
These new perspectives are now an essential part of what it means to be Christian and Catholic in the 21st century.”
“It is time for the Church in Israel to definitively reject replacement theology, come back in line with mainstream Catholic teaching and humbly return to a healthy appreciation of its Jewish roots.”
5. Christians as fully fledged citizens: Israel is the only country in the Middle East in which the number of Christians is growing – up from 34,000 in 1949 to 161,000 in the 2013 census. So I was encouraged that Pope Francis stated to President Peres that, “A variety of Christian communities live and work in the State of Israel. They are an integral part of society. Christians wish to contribute to the common good and the growth of peace... as fullfledged citizens who reject extremism in all its forms and are committed to fostering reconciliation.”
Perhaps he had in mind courageous Palestinian Christian leaders like Father Gabriel Nadaf and Naim Khoury who stand with Israel in spite of strong Muslim opposition.
There are also a significant number of local Muslims who have become Christians in the past seven years and pay a big price for coming out of Islam – sadly the PLO’s proposed constitution has adopted Sharia Law, under which such Christians face the death penalty.
In his meeting with the ecumenical patriarch of Constantinople Pope Francis also expressed profound concern for persecuted Christians in Egypt, Syria and Iraq – we need to keep them in prayer.
Pope Francis has repeatedly said, “a Christian cannot be an anti-Semite.”
I would like to assure your readers that Pope Francis is leading the Church to rediscover the Jewish roots of our faith, to honor our elder brothers and see true reconciliation between Israel and the Church in the days ahead.
I end with Pope Francis’s parting words to President Peres: “Mr. President, I assure you of my continued prayers for the institutions and the citizens of the State of Israel.... Peace be upon Israel and the entire Middle East! Shalom!” Here he was echoing Psalm 122 that he had earlier placed in a crack in the Western Wall.
The author is a Catholic lay leader in Ireland.
I think that was Mrs. Glick's main complaint with the Pope, that he acknowledged Judea and Samaria as Palestine, not Israel.
“Can you explain to me why Pope Francis referred to Palestine as a state, when the Lord has promised to enter into judgment with the people who divide up His land (Joel 3:2)?”
I can explain it. Whether you like it or not, whether I like it or not, most people around the world think Palestine should be an independent nation. Thus, Francis, like most people on the planet called Palestine a state - which in fact it is in that it has its own laws, own flag, own territory, own parliament, own police force, own history (however artificial), etc. Thus, none of those people outside of Palestine and Israel are diving up the land. They are merely recognizing what is already obvious.
Do you believe in the dual covenant theory; that Jews need not convert to achieve salvation?
Most people? It doesn't matter, God gave this land to the descendants of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Not to the descendants of Ishmael.
Thus, none of those people outside of Palestine and Israel are diving up the land. They are merely recognizing what is already obvious.
Since God gave the land, all of the land, to Israel, those people may think what they want but they ARE dividing the land.
In case of doubt, always refer to the Book, it is pretty clear.
“Most people? It doesn’t matter, God gave this land to the descendants of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Not to the descendants of Ishmael.”
If you are a descendent of Ishmael, you ARE a descendent of Abraham. And no matter who God gave the land to the Palestinians aren’t leaving unless God makes them. So far God has not chosen to oust them. You’ll just have to accept that God has refused to act for whatever reason. Can you humbly accept God’s will?
“Since God gave the land, all of the land, to Israel, those people may think what they want but they ARE dividing the land.”
Nope. They aren’t. God can change things in the blink of an eye if He wants. He clearly has not chosen to do so at this time. You’ll have to learn to accept that.
“In case of doubt, always refer to the Book, it is pretty clear.”
You better explain your understanding of God’s Word to God because He isn’t doing much to support your view. Can you live with that?
Who did God use in the Old Testament to make the Canaanites leave the land? Wasn't it the Israelites?
So far God has not chosen to oust them.
How do you know that? I can tell you how I know that God wants them to have the land... he promised it to them. Abraham asked God that Ishmael be the inheritor of the promise (Gen. 17:18) and God said "no" (Gen. 17:19). So, the land belongs to the descendants of Isaac.
God can change things in the blink of an eye
Praise God that His promises are everlasting, that He does not change (Malachi 3:6). Satan has been trying from the very beginning to keep any of God's promises from being fulfilled... he was behind throwing the Hebrew newborns in the Nile, or killing the innocents at Bethlehem. But God's promises don't change, He is Yisrael HsTzur (the Rock of Israel). So, when he promised the land it was forever, as you can read in Gen. 13:15.
God has monotheistic Muslims as a buffer between His Holy City and the more idolatrous.
Do you affirm or deny the words of the LORD Jesus Christ ? And, behold, a certain lawyer stood up, and tempted him, saying, Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life? He said unto him, What is written in the law? how readest thou? And he answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbour as thyself. And he said unto him, Thou hast answered right: this do, and thou shalt live.
“And Jerusalem will be trampled by Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled” (Luke 21:24). I just happen to believe that all signs are that the times of the times of the Gentiles either already are or are about to be fulfilled.
Yes but This time all the enemies can be summarily destroyed if necessary. What we see of Israel is her peace- seeking, conciliatory character. That’s very real. But it is not derived from any inability to destroy her enemies if forced to do so. Israel can’t stop them for singing their hateful or aggressive tunes. So we probably will have to listen to all that garbage ( including all their the pretenses or lies) for perhaps a long time yet. But we certainly don’t have to give them any credence. And as disgusting as all the propaganda is, it cannot force Israel to give away any more of her tiny little country. I’m thinking of just investing g in a set of ear plugs while purchasing Israel bonds and stocks — especially in the building and defense industries. Have a happy day.
“Who did God use in the Old Testament to make the Canaanites leave the land? Wasn’t it the Israelites?”
Yep. And is He using them now to do the same thing to the Palestinians? No, apparently not. Wake up!
“How do you know that?”
Are they still there?
“I can tell you how I know that God wants them to have the land... he promised it to them. Abraham asked God that Ishmael be the inheritor of the promise (Gen. 17:18) and God said “no” (Gen. 17:19). So, the land belongs to the descendants of Isaac.”
I understand what you’re saying. What you don’t seem to understand is that God - for whatever reason - doesn’t seem to be doing anything to oust the Palestinians. If you have any hard facts about God ousting the Palestinians, post them. Got any? Any at all?
“Praise God that His promises are everlasting, that He does not change (Malachi 3:6). Satan has been trying from the very beginning to keep any of God’s promises from being fulfilled... he was behind throwing the Hebrew newborns in the Nile, or killing the innocents at Bethlehem. But God’s promises don’t change, He is Yisrael HsTzur (the Rock of Israel). So, when he promised the land it was forever, as you can read in Gen. 13:15.”
Again, If you have any hard facts about God ACTUALLY ousting the Palestinians, post them. Got any? Any at all? Has God struck the Palestinians with a terrible plague that has wiped them out? Has He wiped them out with storms? Has He wiped them out with enemy armies? Well? Has He?
I affirm those words.
Now will you answer my question? I’ve answered yours.
Amos 9:15
“Yes but This time all the enemies can be summarily destroyed if necessary.”
Has God done that?
“What we see of Israel is her peace- seeking, conciliatory character. That’s very real. But it is not derived from any inability to destroy her enemies if forced to do so. Israel can’t stop them for singing their hateful or aggressive tunes. So we probably will have to listen to all that garbage ( including all their the pretenses or lies) for perhaps a long time yet. But we certainly don’t have to give them any credence. And as disgusting as all the propaganda is, it cannot force Israel to give away any more of her tiny little country. I’m thinking of just investing g in a set of ear plugs while purchasing Israel bonds and stocks — especially in the building and defense industries. Have a happy day.”
I hope you have a happy day too. :)
...and the legal drawing and re-drawing of of the lines have been done over and over, over and over again by Jews and Gentiles, Empires and Rebels since it was united as a "State" under David and then divided after just one generation, after Solomon.
You might want to ask most religiously observant of the Israeli Jews, the nearly million-strong Haredi, why they support a State of Palestine, when the secular agnostic Jews do not?
We have got a bit off topic. Remember the thread was about Pope Francis leading the Church in a pro-Israel direction. And I questioned why did he acknowledged the State of Palestine? The land was given to Israel in perpetuity. In fact, the day is coming when they will control all of the land given to them, from the Nile to the Euphrates, but that would be a topic for another thread!
“What makes you think it is any different now?”
Is it happening now? It has nothing to do with what I think. Is it HAPPENING now? No, it isn’t.
“Couldn’t the Lord use the IDF to accomplish His will?”
Yes, He could. Now, IS HE? No, He IS NOT. It’s just that simple.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.