Replies

"Mark A. Noll, a professor of Christian thought at Wheaton College, a center of evangelical scholarship in Illinois, said evangelicals are beginning to move away from supersessionism -- the centuries-old belief that with the coming of Jesus, God ended his covenant with the Jews and transferred it to the Christian church."

"Since the 1960s, the Roman Catholic Church and some Protestant denominations have renounced supersessionism and stressed their belief that the covenant between God and the Jewish people remains in effect."

Ok, I am confused. When did the Catholic Church renounce supersessionism?? I went to Catholic schools for nine years, and attend Mass weekly, and I do not recall ever hearing of such a "renouncement". However, I will admit that I am not an expert, so if I am wrong about this, then please let me know (in a gentle and Christian way!!).

By way of example, last year, I read Carl E. Olson's book entitled "Will Catholics Be 'Left Behind'?", published in 2003 (Olson is a devout Catholic who grew up in an Evangelical family and attended Evangelical theology schools before converting to Catholicism). In his book, he discusses all of this in a very detailed and scholarly way (Catholic teaching vs. Evangelical teaching about the End Times, the Jews, "The Rapture", etc...). His book contrasts Catholic theology to the theology espoused by the likes of Hal Lindsey, and Tim LaHaye in his "Left Behind" series. Olson seems to know his subject matter inside and out (whether you agree with his conclusions, or not).

Olson goes through great lenghts to explain in detail how the Catholic church believes that God transferred his covenant from the Jewish people to The Church at the coming of Christ. He makes NO mention of the Catholic Church having renounced this belief - in fact he says just the opposite!!

Now, this article in the Washington Post is claiming that beginning in the 1960's (around Vatican II, one would assume), that the Catholic church suddenly renounced its' centuries-old belief that God's covenant switched from the Jews to The Church at the coming of Christ. I must admit, I have not heard that this belief has been renounced!!! I don't recall EVER hearing this preached in any Catholic church. The only place I have heard such things said is when I have attended an Evangelical church. So, I must admit that all of this sounds very odd to me.

So, did the Catholic Church REALLY change it's teaching about the status of the Jews within the past 40 years?? Or is the Washington Post full of hot wind?? If anyone out there knows Catholic theology better than I do (not very difficult!!), and could enlighten me, I would appreciate it!!