Lustiger: For Funeral, Pope Seeks Paris Match (Jerusalem Post labels him 'apostate')

WITL ^ | August 6, 2007 | Rocco Palmo

[NYer]

Returning to things Lustiger, it's well after Roman noon, and still no sign from the Holy See of the customary papal telegram published at the death of every cardinal.

The delay can best be attributed not to Benedict XVI's lack of something to say, but sewing up arrangements for the selection of his personal representative to Friday's funeral for the Parisian cardinal, who died yesterday at 80.

(Given the timing in the midst of the August hiatus, finding an available cardinal becomes a bit more difficult than it usually is.... Even for the Pope.)

Given Lustiger's stature as the high-profile holder of one of the global church's marquee posts for a quarter-century, the nod might go to either of the Curia's French princes -- the vice-dean of the College of Cardinals Roger Etchegaray or the new president of Interreligious Dialogue Jean-Louis Tauran -- or even, possibly, the Secretary of State Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone SDB on his way back from the Knights of Columbus convention in Nashville. (Bertone touched down in Washington last night, and will celebrate the opening liturgy of the 125th Supreme Convention tomorrow morning.)

The late prelate is shown at right during one of the cherished traditions he brought to Paris: the annual Good Friday Via Crucis from Notre-Dame Cathedral to the Basilica of Sacre-Coueur atop Montmartre.

In light of the Jewish-born cardinal's conversion to Christianity, the Jerusalem Post has seen fit to brandish its obit with the word "apostate." In the headline.

Even in death, it seems, some still fail to put the polemics aside.

SVILUPPO: At 2pm Rome time, the papal telegram -- addressed to Lustiger's successor as archbishop of Paris, Andre Vingt-Trois -- was released; no legate's name announced.

Rush translation from the original French:

Learning with great emotion of the death of Cardinal Jean-Marie Lustiger, archbishop-emeritus of Paris, I am anxious to express to you my profound union of prayer with the archdiocese of Paris, with those close to the deceased, and with all those touched by the departure of this great figure of the church in France. I entrust to the mercy of God the dear Cardinal Lustiger, who generously devoted his life to the service of the people of God in the diocese of Orleans and the archdiocese of Paris. I give thanks to the Lord for his episcopal ministry, keeping present the memory of this shepherd enraptured by the search for God and the proclamation of the Gospel to the world. From his ministry to students, he maintained a concern for the young. In the communities to which he was entrusted, he contributed to the development of a missionary engagement of the faithful, attaching himself particularly to the renewal of the formation of priests and of the laity. Man of faith and dialogue, he gave generously of himself to promote ever more fraternal relations between Christians and Jews. With a clairvoyant intellect, he sought to place his gifts at the service of the faith, to make present the Gospel to all areas of society. As a sign of consolation, I grant the Apostolic Blessing to you, and to your auxiliaries, those close to the late cardinal, to the priests, deacons, consecrated persons and to the faithful of the archdiocese and to all who take part in the funeral rites.

BENEDICTUS PP. XVI

PHOTO: Reuters/Charles Platiau

-30-

[NYer]

Apostate French cardinal dies at 80

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JPost.com Staff, THE JERUSALEM POST

Aug. 6, 2007

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Former archbishop of Paris and adviser to Pope John Paul II Cardinal Jean-Marie Lustiger died Sunday at age 80.

Lustiger was born Jewish, the son of Polish immigrants to France. He was first exposed to Catholicism when he and his sister were sent away from Paris after the Nazi occupation, and later converted. Lustiger's mother was deported and died in Auschwitz.

The cardinal was a champion of interfaith relations and always asserted that he remained a Jew, a claim that was soundly rejected by Chief Ashkenazi Rabbi Yisrael Meir Lau. Lau said that Lustiger had "betrayed his people and his faith during the most difficult and darkest of periods."

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[Talking_Mouse]

My understanding of Jewish notions of Judaism was that a Jew was a Jew if said person had a mother who was Jewish. It did not matter what the person believed, due to the mother’s Judaism the person was Jewish. It seems that the chief rabbi has a different view.

[wideawake]

Very classy, JPost, very classy.

[NYer]

My understanding of Jewish notions of Judaism was that a Jew was a Jew if said person had a mother who was Jewish. It did not matter what the person believed, due to the mother’s Judaism the person was Jewish. It seems that the chief rabbi has a different view.

According to The Association of Hebrew Catholics, you are correct and the rabbi is wrong.

[Thorin]

What do you want to bet the Jerusalem Post has run articles whining about Benedict XVI’s motu proprio and the prayer for the conversion of Jews found in the Mass of St. Pius V?

[maryz]

Conversion to Christianity constitutes apostasy in a way that, say, conversion to Buddhism or even becoming an atheist doesn't. IIRC, though as a general rule, every Jew worldwide has a right to move to Israel and claim Israeli citizenship, the Christian convert from Judaism does not.

For a knowledgeable and sensitive treatment of the issues involved, see David Novak's Edith Stein, Apostate Saint, originally printed in First Things.

[Tax-chick]

Conversion to Christianity constitutes apostasy in a way that, say, conversion to Buddhism or even becoming an atheist doesn't.

How interesting!

[Tax-chick]

That was an interesting article. I can understand the author’s reasoning. However, I think it’s ugly, reflective of human pride, and not any consideration for the claims of God on His creatures.

I’m reminded of the poster who was gloating because a person brought up Catholic became Moslem. No concern for the soul of the misguided person, nor for God’s desire that His children be saved; just “all about me” sneering.

(I’m not saying Mr. Novak was sneering, just that one discussion reminded me of the other.)

[maryz]

However, I think it’s ugly, reflective of human pride, and not any consideration for the claims of God on His creatures.

I really don't see where you get this from the article -- his point is, pre-eminently, that as a Jew he understands the claims of the God of Abraham, the God of Jacob, the God of Joseph to require that he remain a faithful Jew. He knows that Christians understand the claims of God to be based on fidelity to Christ.

Conversion is a thorny issue -- one that I have never understood myself (I've never personally known any converts well and I've never felt any inclination to convert). Clearly, there are many converts (in all directions) -- converts who were devout in their birth faith (we'll leave aside the others) who are equally devout and dedicated in their new faith. Naturally, I rejoice in genuine conversions to Catholicism -- and I'm at least puzzled by those that go the other way.

He's basically exploring the depths of the question, but must leave it at "After all, it is the question of truth, and truth is what we are both all about." A think cannot be and not be at the same time under the same aspect.

What do you think would be the proper tack to take?

[Tax-chick]

A thing cannot be and not be at the same time under the same aspect.

Obviously.

My point was that if they find it "better" for a person to leave Judaism for Buddhism than for Christianity, then they're not thinking of the truth. To abandon the worship of the One True God (even a mistaken version, as most Jewish people think of Christianity, and vice-versa) for idolatry or atheism would seem to me to be a categorical negative.

Maybe I'm misunderstanding the whole thing.

[maryz]

I think the logic of it is that one who leaves Judaism for atheism or Buddhism doesn’t leave for “another” God. The idea of an incarnate God is just incomprehensibe (and blasphemous) to an observant Jew.

[Invincibly Ignorant]

The Association of Hebrew Catholics, you are correct and the rabbi is wrong.

Lol. Imagine the odds.

[Hacksaw]

The cardinal was a champion of interfaith relations and always asserted that he remained a Jew, a claim that was soundly rejected by Chief Ashkenazi Rabbi Yisrael Meir Lau. Lau said that Lustiger had "betrayed his people and his faith during the most difficult and darkest of periods."

Sounds rather Muslim of Lau to act that way.

[maryz]

I should have explained further that it's not that they think atheism or Buddhism is better than Christianity -- just that Christianity makes claims of belief that are incompatible with Judaism, which neither Buddhism nor atheism do. It's sort of like (a weak analogy, but the best I can do right now) a girl who has a fight with her boyfriend and he doesn't send her a birthday card. Well, she can still consider him her boyfriend, even if they're not speaking. When she hears he's married someone else, though, that option is pretty much ruled out.

[NYer]

For a knowledgeable and sensitive treatment of the issues involved, see David Novak's Edith Stein, Apostate Saint, originally printed in First Things.

Have you considered posting this to the forum? It would make for a worthy discussion. Thanks for the link!

[maryz]

Sure, if you think so. I hadn’t thought of it, but I guess Jewish apostasy as a topic is pretty much current because of the discussions of Lustiger.

[RobbyS]

Caiaphas had the same opinion about Jesus. But it seems to me that a Jew cannot cease to be a Jew anymore than a baptized person can cease to be a Christian. Each is indelibly marked for life.

[NYer]

it's not that they think atheism or Buddhism is better than Christianity -- just that Christianity makes claims of belief that are incompatible with Judaism, which neither Buddhism nor atheism do.

Ahhhh yes! An excellent testimony to this comes from Roy Schoeman, a Jewish convert. In his conversion story, Roy relates how he was walking along a beach on Cape Cod and was 'suddenly transported into heaven'. Here is how he explained it:

As I was walking, lost in my thoughts, I found myself in the immediate presence of God.  It is as though I "fell into Heaven."  Everything changed from one moment to the next, but in such a smooth and subtle way that I was not aware of any discontinuity.  I felt myself in the immediate presence of God.  I was aware of His infinite exaltedness, and of His infinite and personal love for me.  I saw my life as though I was looking back on it after death, in His presence, and could see everything which I would be happy about and everything which I would wish I had done differently.  I saw that every action I had ever done mattered, for good or for evil.  I saw that everything which had ever happened in my life had been perfectly designed for my own good from the infinitely wise and loving hand of God, not only including but especially those things which I at the time I thought had been the greatest catastrophes.  I saw that my two greatest regrets when I died would be every moment which I had wasted not doing anything of value in the eyes of God, and all of the time and energy which I had wasted worrying about not being loved when every moment of my existence I was bathed in an infinite sea of love, although unaware of it.  I saw that the meaning and purpose of my life was to worship and serve my Lord and Master, in whose presence I found myself.  I wanted to know His name, so that I could worship Him properly, so that I could follow "His" religion.  I remember silently praying "Tell me your name.  I don't mind if You're Apollo, and I have to become a Roman pagan.  I don't mind if You're Krishna, and I have to become a Hindu.  I don't mind if You're Buddha, and I have to become a Buddhist.  As long as You're not Christ, and I have to become a Christian!" (Jewish readers might be able to identify with this deep-rooted aversion to Christianity, based on the mistaken belief that it was the "enemy" which lay behind two thousand years of persecution of the Jews.)

.

Not surprisingly, it was our Blessed Mother who brought him to our Lord. Again, the words of Roy Schoeman.

Because I interpreted the experience as a "mystical" one, I initially looked towards mysticism, which led me to a lot of blind alleys.  Prior to my experience I had not had any interest at all in mysticism or any of the New Age religions or meditative practices or occultism, and those are what I first came across.  I spent a number of months looking in that, essentially Hindu although disguised, direction.

Yet every night before going to sleep, I would say a short prayer to know the name of my Lord and Master and God whom I had met on the beach.  A year to the day after the initial experience, I went to sleep after saying that prayer, and felt as though I was woken by a gentle hand on my shoulder, and escorted to a room where I was left alone with the most beautiful young woman I could imagine.  I knew without being told that she was the Blessed Virgin Mary.  I felt entirely awake (and my memory is as though I had been awake), although I was dreaming.  I remember my first reaction, standing there awed by her presence and grandeur, was wishing I knew at least the Hail Mary so that I could honor her!  She offered to answer any questions I had.  I remember thinking about what to ask, asking the questions, and her answers.  After speaking to me a while longer, the audience was ended.  When I woke the next morning I was hopelessly in love with the Blessed Virgin Mary, and I knew that the God I had met on the beach was Christ, and, and that all I wanted was to be as much of, and as good a, Christian as possible.  I still did not know anything about Christianity, nor the difference between the Catholic Church and any of the hundreds of Protestant denominations.  It took me another two years or so to find my way to the Catholic Church, guided by my love and reverence for the Blessed Virgin Mary.

This, from a Jew educated by the top rabbis in the US, including a Hasidic rabbi. God acts in extraordinary ways to call us to Him. Roy Schoeman's conversion story is by far my most favorite. It never fails to bring tears to my eyes.

[maryz]

It's a very beautiful story!