Posted on 01/12/2006 7:42:57 AM PST by Alouette
Proposed ‘rehabilitation’ of the man who was paid 30 pieces of silver to identify Jesus to Roman soldiers in the Garden of Gethsemane, comes on the ground that he was not deliberately evil, but was just ‘fulfilling his part in God’s plan, the London Times reports
Judas Iscariot, the disciple who betrayed Jesus with a kiss, is to be given a makeover by Vatican scholars, according to the London Times.
The proposed “rehabilitation” of the man who was paid 30 pieces of silver to identify Jesus to Roman soldiers in the Garden of Gethsemane, comes on the ground that he was not deliberately evil, but was just “fulfilling his part in God’s plan,” the London Times said.
Christians have traditionally blamed Judas for aiding and abetting the Crucifixion, and his name is synonymous with treachery. According to St Luke, Judas was “possessed by Satan.”
According to the London Times, a campaign led by Monsignor Walter Brandmuller, head of the Pontifical Committee for Historical Science, is aimed at persuading believers to look kindly at a man reviled for 2,000 years.
Mgr Brandmuller told fellow scholars it was time for a “re-reading” of the Judas story. He is supported by Vittorio Messori, a prominent Catholic writer close to both Pope Benedict XVI and the late John Paul II.
Signor Messori said that the rehabilitation of Judas would “resolve the problem of an apparent lack of mercy by Jesus toward one of his closest collaborators.”
He told La Stampa that there was a Christian tradition that held that Judas was forgiven by Jesus and ordered to purify himself with “spiritual exercises” in the desert.
'Judas portrayed with a hooked nose'
In scholarly circles, it has long been unfashionable to demonize Judas and Catholics in Britain are likely to welcome Judas’ rehabilitation.
The London Times quoted Father Allen Morris, Christian Life and Worship secretary for the Catholic Bishops of England and Wales, as saying, “If Christ died for all — is it possible that Judas too was redeemed through the Master he betrayed?”
The “rehabilitation” of Judas could help the Pope’s drive to improve Christian-Jewish relations, which he has made a priority of his pontificate.
Some Bible experts say Judas was “a victim of a theological libel which helped to create anti Semitism” by forming an image of him as a “sinister villain” prepared to betray for money.
In many medieval plays and paintings Judas is portrayed with a hooked nose and exaggerated Semitic features. In Dante’s Inferno, Judas is relegated to the lowest pits of Hell, where he is devoured by a three-headed demon.
The move to clear Judas’s name coincides with plans to publish the alleged Gospel of Judas for the first time in English, German and French. Though not written by Judas, it is said to reflect the belief among early Christians — now gaining ground in the Vatican — that in betraying Christ Judas was fulfilling a divine mission, which led to the arrest and Crucifixion of Jesus and hence to man’s salvation, according to the London Times.
'Fell headlong'
Mgr Brandmuller said that he expected “no new historical evidence” from the supposed gospel, which had been excluded from the canon of accepted Scripture.
But it could “serve to reconstruct the events and context of Christ’s teachings as they were seen by the early Christians.” This included that Jesus had always preached “forgiveness for one’s enemies.”
Some Vatican scholars have expressed concern over the reconsideration of Judas. Monsignor Giovanni D’Ercole, a Vatican theologian, said it was “dangerous to re-evaluate Judas and muddy the Gospel accounts by reference to apocryphal writings. This can only create confusion in believers.”
The Gospels tell how Judas later returned the 30 pieces of silver — his “blood money” — and hanged himself, or according to the Acts of the Apostles, “fell headlong and burst open so that all his entrails burst out."
Warning! This is a high-volume ping list.
"He told La Stampa that there was a Christian tradition that held that Judas was forgiven by Jesus and ordered to purify himself with “spiritual exercises” in the desert."
And how, pray tell, was Judas to perform said exercises. He hung himself.
Another issue, it wasn't just Judas who was a Jew - they all were - Jesus and every apostle. How does this escape the learned men?
Reminds me of a conversation I once had with an old friend - we got around to talking about Hitler "Ah," he said, "a much misunderstood man."
Seems Judas was as well....? (I don't think so)
Respectfully, as a new poster, I'd like to say that there are some mysteries of God we will never know in this life.
Who is man to say suicide is unforgivable? God sees into every mans heart, He sees more than we do. How many that commit suicide are truly in their right minds? Would a suicide delete even every act of an otherwise righteous mans life?
I believe Judas is forgiven, if only because Judas was necessary to Gods plan (so was the King of Egypt. Again, Gods mystery). Judas Was remorseful, his heart was heavy with his betrayal. Most human beings have felt that way at one time or another.
'nuf said. They have an agenda against Christianity.
? What has this got to do with anything? Judas was hardly the only Jewish apostle. According to the chr*stians, they all were!
For some reason there is a tendency among both anti-Semitic chr*stians and liberal Jews to think of Judas Iscariot as the only Jewish apostle when according to chr*stianity they were all Jews.
There are even some who claim that this apostle was given the name "Judas" in order to personify and demonize the Jews. These people apparently don't know that another apostle had the exact same name and is one of the most popular saints: Jude the Obscure, the "patron saint of lost causes." Hey, I was Catholic for six years!
Revisionist history and revisionist religion = troubles for Christians and Jews. Surely Benedict is a wiser pope than this. As another poster said, it's the MSM quoting a single Monsignor. We shall see...
Hate to point this out, but Judas didn't point Christ out to "Roman Soldiers". He was taken by Temple troops from the Sanhedrin, and brought before Caihaphus [p/s?]. The Romans didn't get into the act until the next mrning [Good Friday], when Jesus was brought before Pontious Pilate, the Roman Procurator of Judea.
Judas could not forgive himself apparently.
MSM's efforts to create divisions between observing/believing Jews and righteous Christians. Having us work together sincerely and for the good is not part of their agenda to be sure.
No, I believe he could not. When you have betrayed your God, what recourse do you have?
In modern Christianity, it is generally believed that one must forgive themselves to receive Gods forgiveness. Perhaps this is true.
Still, God is our Maker. It is He who decides who enters heaven. Only He knows and can give true justice to any man.
Here are Jesus's words in reference to Judas... I'd like to see the Monsignor's response to them :
" Jesus said, "Truly I tell you, one of you will betray me, one who is eating with me. They began to be distressed and to say to him one after another, 'Surely, not I?' He said to them, 'It is one of the twelve, one who is dipping bread into the bowl with me. For the Son of Man goes as it is written of him, but woe to that one by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been better for that one not to have been born.' "
(Mark 14:17-21)
When it was evening, he took his place with the twelve; and while they were eating, he said, "Truly I tell you, one of you will betray me." And they became greatly distressed and began to say to him one after another, "Surely not I, Lord?" He answered, "The one who has dipped his hand into the bowl with me will betray me. The Son of Man goes as it is written of him, but woe to that one by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been better for that one not to have been born." Judas, who betrayed him, said, "Surely not I, Rabbi?" He replied, "You have said so."
(Matthew 26:20-25)
But see, the one who betrays me is with me, and his hand is on the table. For the Son of Man is going as it has been determined, but woe to that one by whom he is betrayed!" Then they began to ask one another, which one of them it could be who would do this."
(Luke 22:22-23)
Jesus answered them, "Did I not choose you, the twelve? Yet one of you is a devil." He was speaking of Judas son of Simon Iscariot, for he, though one of the twelve, was going to betray him.
(John 6:70-71)
How about it Monsginor ?
I think I prefer Dante's interpretation of Judas' fate:
16 When we had gotten far enough along
17 that my master was pleased to let me see
18 the creature who was once so fair of face
19 he took a step aside, then brought me to a halt:
20 'Look there at Dis! And see the place
21 where you must arm yourself with fortitude.'
22 Then how faint and frozen I became,
23 reader, do not ask, for I do not write it,
24 since any words would fail to be enough.
25 It was not death, nor could one call it life.
26 Imagine, if you have the wit,
27 what I became, deprived of both.
28 The emperor of the woeful kingdom
29 rose from the ice below his breast,
30 and I in size am closer to a giant
31 than giants are when measured to his arms.
32 Judge, then, what the whole must be
33 that is proportional to such a part.
34 If he was fair as he is hideous now,
35 and raised his brow in scorn of his creator,
36 he is fit to be the source of every sorrow.
37 Oh, what a wonder it appeared to me
38 when I perceived three faces on his head.
39 The first, in front, was red in color.
40 Another two he had, each joined with this,
41 above the midpoint of each shoulder,
42 and all the three united at the crest.
43 The one on the right was a whitish yellow,
44 while the left-hand one was tinted like the people
45 living at the sources of the Nile.
46 Beneath each face two mighty wings emerged,
47 such as befit so vast a bird:
48 I never saw such massive sails at sea.
49 They were featherless and fashioned
50 like a bat's wings. When he flapped them,
51 he sent forth three separate winds,
52 the sources of the ice upon Cocytus.
53 Out of six eyes he wept and his three chins
54 dripped tears and drooled blood-red saliva.
55 With his teeth, just like a hackle
56 pounding flax, he champed a sinner
57 in each mouth, tormenting three at once.
58 For the one in front the gnawing was a trifle
59 to the clawing, for from time to time
60 his back was left with not a shred of skin.
61 'That soul up there who bears the greatest pain,'
62 said the master, 'is Judas Iscariot, who has
63 his head within and outside flails his legs.
64 'As for the other two, whose heads are dangling down,
65 Brutus is hanging from the swarthy snout --
66 see how he writhes and utters not a word! --
67 'and from the other, Cassius, so large of limb.
68 But night is rising in the sky. It is time
69 for us to leave, for we have seen it all.'
Inferno, Canto XXXIV
This is just the London Times trying to sell newspapers.
This would be one problem I have with the Catholic thinking....that it is up to the Vatican to "rehabiltate" and "forgive" Judas. Just a 'lil gesture to show remorse for past anti-semiticism?
Especially when over the centuries there have been so many Catholics who have been made to feel guilt over the sin and exclusion from heaven (not to mention being denied burial in hallowed ground) of their loved ones who committed suicide ... without even throwing in the betrayal of Jesus. Are they all going to be rehabbed and re-buried too?
Ironically, wasn't Judas be the only apostle who died Jewish .... and not Catholic?
Mgr Brandmuller told fellow scholars it was time for a “re-reading” of the Judas story. He is supported by Vittorio Messori, a prominent Catholic writer close to both Pope Benedict XVI and the late John Paul II.
Signor Messori said that the rehabilitation of Judas would “resolve the problem of an apparent lack of mercy by Jesus toward one of his closest collaborators.”
He told La Stampa that there was a Christian tradition that held that Judas was forgiven by Jesus and ordered to purify himself with “spiritual exercises” in the desert.
Here we go again. Man's tradition, again, trumps the Holy Word of G-d. Worse yet, it is Gnostic ( secret spiritual exercises to gain access to Heaven ). b'shem Y'shua
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