A spokesman for the Ecumenical Council today stated that the Vatican document on the attitude of the Catholic Church toward Jews and anti-Semitism–which was not taken up at last year’s session of the Council–has been re-written and strengthened for presentation to the third session of the Council which will begin in September.
The re-drafting was done by the Ecumenical Council’s Secretariat for Promoting Christian Unity headed by Augustin Cardinal Bea, who is known as a great friend of the Jews, the spokesman said. He called the revised text “a distinct improvement” on the draft which was before the Council’s second plenary session last fall. That draft included statements that Jews could not be held responsible for the crucifixion of Christ and that Catholics were under obligation to condemn anti-Semitism.
The spokesman said that it now appeared that it-was “very wise” not to “rush the schema” last fall because public reaction “caused Bishops everywhere to think thoroughly about the issues involved and the result is a stronger and not a weaker or compromise text.” No details on the changes were disclosed.
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