Judge Joseph M. Proskauer, Honorary President of the American Jewish Committee and for many years a leading figure in efforts to improve Catholic-Jewish relations, said today that the Ecumenical Council’s declaration on the Jews has achieved three major effects:
“1. It has blown away the poisonous miasma of the Christ-killer myth; 2. It has cemented warmest ties of affection and respect between Catholics and Jews; 3. It has advanced the cause of human fraternity to a new peak of accomplishment.”
Judge Proskauer spoke at the first of a series of three public luncheon-forums under the auspices of the New York Chapter of the American Jewish Committee. On the platform with him was Rabbi Marc H. Tanenbaum, director of Interreligious Affairs for the human relations agency. In support of his statement about the effects of the declaration, Judge Proskauer pointed to a worldwide survey of the Catholic and general press reaction following its passage last October.
“There has been an overwhelmingly positive reaction to the declaration, which is being received as a clear mandate for the improvement of Catholic-Jewish relations,” he declared. The press digest, prepared by the American Jewish Committee, surveyed Catholic, Protestant, Jewish and general press reaction to the Vatican Council declaration among newspapers printed in the U.S., Europe, Latin America, Israel, and other Middle Eastern countries. The conclusions are based on a preliminary report on the findings, which are to be issued shortly in documented form.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
