Catholic-jewish Ecumenism Reported at All-time High; Anti-semitism Still Widespread

The Secretariat for Catholic-Jewish Relations of the Committee for Ecumenical and Interreligious Affairs of the National Conference of Catholic Bishops reported yesterday that Catholic-Jewish ecumenism in the United States was at an all-time high. In the past five years, the unit said, the two religions have reached a point “which has never been witnessed before in Christian history.” Of the at least 35 dioceses with apparatus for handling Catholic-Jewish relations, the Secretariat said, noteworthy progress has been made by those in Baltimore, Boston, Philadelphia, Detroit, Galveston-Houston, Brooklyn. N.Y., Albany. N.Y., and Rockville Centre, N.Y. “For the first time in our history,” the Secretariat stated, “relations between Jews and Christians, the church and synagogue approach the normal, with Christians and Jews approaching each other in full respect and brotherly love and in dialogue.” The church in America “has performed with distinction” in this area, the report noted, but it listed such “serious obstacles in our path” as “low-toned and unconscious” anti-Semitism, the slighting of Judaism in Catholics’ concept of Christianity, and Christian apathy regarding the fate of Israel. The Secretariat report was praised as “impressive” by Dr. Joseph Lichten, national director of intercultural affairs for the Anti-Defamation League of B’nai B’rith, who attended the National Conference’s meeting here. He said the report was most valuable for its recognition of “widespread” anti-Semitism and for its ecumenical approach to Zionism.