Rep. Edward Feighan (D. Ohio) believes that if the Vatican establishes diplomatic relations with Israel it will help the Middle East peace process as well as improve Jewish-Catholic relations.
That is why Feighan, a Catholic, has introduced a resolution in the House urging the Vatican to officially recognize the State of Israel and establish diplomatic relations, according to a spokesperson for the Congressman. She said the resolution has 20 co-signers so far.
Feighan introduced the resolution in conjunction with the 20th anniversary of the Second Vatican Council’s declaration “Nostra Aetate.” He noted that during a recent celebration of the anniversary, Pope John Paul II urged “religious leaders to join together to help restore religious faith.”
“A great stop toward that goal would be the Vatican’s recognition of the State of Israel,” Feighan noted in a letter to his colleagues urging their support of the resolution. “As religious strife becomes a larger and more violent threat to international stability and peace, a formal recognition of Israel’s right to exist by the Vatican could have dramatic impact.”
The resolution notes that “the establishment of formal diplomatic relations between the Vatican and the State of Israel would be a positive step toward peace and stability in the Middle East and would promote increased harmony between Christians and Jews throughout the world.”
Feighan, a member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, is a “very staunch supporter of Israel,” according to the spokesperson.
He also initiated a letter to Secretary of State George Shultz urging Shultz to bring up the issue of recognition when the Secretary met the Pope last Easter. Feighan’s spokesperson said the Congressman has not heard from Shultz as to whether he did raise the issue.
Feighan was also among the 26 Representatives who signed a letter to the Pope last month urging him to announce recognition of Israel during his visit to Rome’s main synagogue. The Pope, in the historic visit, denounced anti-Semitism, but did not mention Israel.
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