British Catholics are returning to the Council of Christians and Jews after a ten-year absence, Dr. John Heenan, Archbishop of Westminster and Roman Catholic Primate of England, announced last night.
Speaking at the annual dinner of the “Bridge,” an organization concerned with social service and youth guidance which operates in Britain and Israel, the Archbishop told the large and representative gathering of Jewish and non-Jewish leaders, that he had sent a letter to the Council stating: “If invited, I would join the Council as one of the joint president.” The Vatican has been informed about this letter, he said.
“This is an occasion when I would like to echo the recent statement of his Holiness, the Pope, to a delegation of the American Jewish Committee,” the Archbishop continued. He then quoted Pope Paul’s statement to the delegation that “no civilized nation can any longer tolerate discrimination against a religious community or a racial group.” The Archbishop also quoted the Pope as saying to the delegation “we feel very close to you.” He said “I echo this wholeheartedly and joyfully.”
He told the dinner audience that he also would sponsor a “bridge” scholarship for a British youth to visit Israel. He said his only condition would be that it was given to a Jewish boy or girl.
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