Jesuit Ascribes Anti-semitism to Envy of Superior Qualities

A stirring defense of the Jews and an analysis of Judaism was delivered here this afternoon by the Rev. J. F. X. Murphy, faculty member of Boston College, in an address on “International Judaism,” a feature of the eleventh annual convention of the Jesuit Philosophical Association of the Eastern States.

Father Murphy, who has frequently expressed the conviction that Christianity’s debt to the Hebrew race is so profound that it can never be repaid, in his speech which led a general discussion of the topic, asserted that much of the world’s hostility toward Jews today has as its basis “jealousy of the Jew’s superior tenacity, perseverance and determination.”

The two-day session, which will end tomorrow, has brought to Manresa Island, a secluded spot just off the coast of this city, some 110 faculty members of all the Jesuit colleges in the association.

JEW’S VIEWPOINT INDEPENDENT

Among the outstanding points emphasized by Father Murphy in his paper before the convention were the following:

The Jew, in general, is a non-conformer. His moral and social oscillation is far more in evidence than with most peoples. The history of the Jewish race, as delineated by the Old Testament, is ample evidence of the truth of those assertions, Father Murphy pointed out.

The Jewish nationalistic philosophy, he said, is a philosophy of negation, and for that reason the Jew is unassimilable in world populations today to a greater extent than are nearly any other people.

Then, citing the historic example of St. Ignatius Loyola, founder of the Society of Jesus, he pointed to the great esteem in which Loyola held the Jews when he urged greater proselytization among them because they made the best Jesuits.

DECRIES “EXPLOITATION” MYTH

The situation in Germany today was handled delicately by the Jesuit professor, who confined himself to the remark that it would be necessary to await the verdict of historians before arriving at a proper evaluation of its significance.

In discussing the economic aspects of Judaism, Father Murphy struck a blow at the age-old charge that Jews are exploiters of Christians. This charge, he said, was unfair, inasmuch as, like Christians, they did not hesitate to exploit each other.

Inhumanity of man to man, he declared, is a trait common to Jews, Gentiles and others as well.

HITLERISM DENOUNCED

In a paper read prior to the discussion of Father Murphy’s topic, the Rev. Laurence K. Patterson delivered a scathing attack against Hitler and “his satellites,” when he characterized as preaching a gospel of nationalism “so perverted and ludicrous that it would arouse contempt were it not so dangerous.”

“It is an almost obvious truism,” he declared, “that exaggerated and bellicose nationalism is an outstanding world problem today. The present Holy Father, Pius XI, has written more than once concerning this burning issue. I cite but one passage from many: ‘Right order and Christian charity do not disapprove of lawful love of country and of a sentiment of justifiable nationalism; if, however, egotism abusing this love of country and exaggerating this sentiment of nationalism insinuates itself into the relations between people and people there is no excess which will not seem justified, and that which between individuals would be judged blameworthy by all is now considered lawful and praiseworthy, if it is done in the name of this exaggerated nationalism.

” ‘Instead of the great law of love and human brotherhood which embraces and holds in a single family all nations and peoples, there enters hatred, driving all to destruction.'”